Shutdown Sparks 85% Increase in US Government Cyberattacks

According to The Media Trust, the US government shutdown has coincided with a surge in cyberattacks, with researchers projecting more than 555 million attacks by the end of October, an 85% rise on September. The report notes that these are not cheap phishing schemes but targeted digital attacks involving websites, apps and advertising that interact with government employees.

Media Trust CEO Chris Olson stresses that threat actors — including nation-state groups and cybercriminals — are pursuing a surge in deceptive ad campaigns and phishing lures designed to exploit financial anxiety during the shutdown. Attacks have hit federal workers in limbo, with the most targeted agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Justice in the first week of October. As experts warn, many attacks may lie in wait, potentially materialising later when furloughs end or staffing returns to normal levels.