Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google
Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi leaders say cybercriminals are targeting residents’ personal data and tax dollars, and a new Senate select committee is now tasked with finding ways to better protect both
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann announced the formation of the cybersecurity select committee, saying state agencies currently operate without a unified security standard
“Everybody has siloed their own security stuff, which is for self-protection. And I did it and everybody else does it. Now we wanna be able to have those protections done on a universal basis,” Hosemann said
Hosemann said the financial toll on the state is significant
“We have hundreds of millions of dollars being stolen out of Mississippi,” he said
He pointed to last year’s cyberattack at the University of Mississippi Medical Center as an example of how even well-protected systems can be disrupted
“If somebody has to pay a ransomware demand — I don’t think the University Hospital did, but others may have — and when they pay that, that’s your tax dollars. So not only are they stealing from you individually, they’re stealing your tax money,” Hosemann said
Hosemann said he has firsthand experience with the threat, citing hacking attempts on election systems during his time as Secretary of State
Sen. Tyler McCaughn is set to co-chair the select committee. He said an early focus will be on reporting requirements
“When an attack happens, even on a local level, how do you even know that it happened as far as the state level? How do we get our re
McCaughn said hospitals, schools, utilities and water systems are among the potential targets
“We’ve got to be prepared because they’re coming. And they’re coming to attack and to get that data,” he said
Hosemann said the committee’s goals include prevention, improved coordination across agencies and consequences for those responsible
“We want to come up with a policy. We want to come up with prosecution. We want to come up with information. We want to come up with protection of our assets and our seniors,” Hosemann said
Want more WLBT news in your inbox?Click hereto subscribe to our newsletter
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Pleaseclick hereto report it and include the headline of the story in your email
Copyright 2026 WLBT. All rights reserved
