Minnesota Deploys National Guard in Response to Cyber Assault on St. Paul

Minnesota activated the National Guard following a cyberattack on St. Paul. The city's mayor described the hack as a deliberate and coordinated assault, leading to shutdowns of city information systems and WiFi outages. The Guard's cyber protection unit is assisting, with the FBI also involved in the investigation.

Minnesota has turned to the National Guard after a cyberattack targeted St. Paul, described by Mayor Melvin Carter as a "deliberate, coordinated, digital attack." Sophisticated hackers struck at the city's infrastructure, prompting a defensive shutdown of information systems to prevent further damage.

Governor Tim Walz approved the deployment of the Guard, which includes a cyber protection unit, due to the severity of the attack surpassing the city's response capabilities. WiFi outages and disruptions in city services, including libraries and network resources, were reported following the shutdown.

Carter emphasized the necessity of the drastic measures to limit exposure and protect sensitive data. The city hired two firms for recovery assistance and is collaborating with the FBI. The attack specifics remain undisclosed, but the situation is being closely monitored by state and federal agencies.

(With inputs from agencies.)