Cyberattacks Disrupt Nevada and Maryland: A Wake-Up Call for Public Services

This week, two separate cyber incidents exposed just how fragile America’s public systems can be when it comes to digital threats.

In Nevada, a major cyberattack forced the state to shut down government offices, websites, and even phone lines, including the governor’s office. For two full days, workers were placed on administrative leave while systems were slowly brought back online. Officials stressed that no personal data was stolen, but the shutdown showed how quickly essential services can be knocked offline.

At the same time, Maryland’s transit system was hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted paratransit services for disabled riders. While buses and metro services continued as usual, the paratransit program stopped accepting new ride requests. For many vulnerable passengers, this meant scrambling to find alternatives at the last minute.

Both cases highlight a sobering reality: hackers are no longer targeting just corporations or banks. They are hitting state governments and public transportation services that millions of Americans depend on every day.

What Can Be Done?

To reduce these risks, experts point to three practical solutions:

1. Zero Trust security: separating critical systems (like emergency services or transit operations) from general networks to stop ransomware from spreading.

2. Regular cyber drills: agencies need to rehearse real-world attack scenarios to make sure staff know exactly how to respond.

3. Offline backups: secure, tested backups ensure systems can be restored quickly without paying ransoms.

The big question now is whether the U.S. will act fast enough. Cyberattacks are no longer rare accidents; they are becoming calculated strikes against the services people rely on most. Nevada and Maryland may just be the latest warning that public services need to be hardened before the next big attack hits closer to home.