Hinds County ransomware attack shuts down tax collection and disrupts judicial services

A ransomware attack against Hinds County, Mississippi, on September 7, 2023, disabled county computer systems and disrupted multiple government functions. The Tax Collector's Office closed, preventing residents from purchasing vehicle tags and completing routine tax transactions. Real estate transactions and electronic court-filing processes were also affected, while county offices implemented alternative and paper-based procedures. A Mississippi Supreme Court decision later confirmed that the cyberattack crippled county offices and caused the Circuit Clerk's Office to close its public entrance during part of September 7. Restoration progressed over several weeks, with some agencies reopening before full recovery.