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Alaska health department website targeted in malware attack

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska health department website was the target of a malware attack, officials said, weeks after a similar attack affected the state’s court system.

The department in a statement late Tuesday said its website was taken offline Monday while an investigation takes place. The statement did not say when the cyberattack was discovered. A message seeking details was sent to a department spokesperson.

Investigators were trying to determine if any personal or confidential information was compromised.

Online COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling and data dashboards are hosted by outside sources and can be accessed through covid19.alaska.gov, the department said.

Health officials said they did not know who was behind the attack, why the department was targeted and whether it was related to any other recent cyberattacks.

The chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court said this month that a cybersecurity attack that resulted in the court system disconnecting its online services was first detected April 29 and that there was no a ransom demand. The court system has been coming back online, announcing this week that the public could again access an online court case and records system and pay fines and fees online.

The court system said Tuesday that the ability to pay bail online was not yet restored.

The Associated Press