City of Huntington Listed by termite Ransomware Group: Ransomware Claim — What’s Alleged & What To Do

On March 7, 2026, the termite ransomware group listed the City of Huntington on its leak site, stating that internal files had been exfiltrated during a ransomware attack. The number of individuals whose information may be involved has not been disclosed, leaving residents and employees without a clear picture of exposure. The listing provides limited technical detail about how the intrusion occurred or the volume of material taken. Public records show only that the group claims to hold files from the municipality and has placed the city on its site. No confirmation of the data's contents or independent verification of the claim has been released.

Breaking down the breach

The incident was reported on March 7, 2026. The only confirmed element is the group's listing of the City of Huntington and its assertion that internal files were removed. The scale of the operation, the method of initial access, and whether encryption was also deployed remain undisclosed. No ransom demand or payment information has been made public.

Who is termite?

Termite is a ransomware group that has appeared in multiple incidents involving municipal and private-sector targets. Its documented pattern involves encrypting systems and copying data before listing victims on a leak site to increase pressure. The group’s listings function as public claims rather than independently verified statements; in this case the listing asserts that City of Huntington files were taken, but no additional evidence has been released by the city or investigators.

Who is City of Huntington?

The City of Huntington was founded in 1871 and serves as the county seat of Cabell County in western West Virginia, with portions extending into Wayne County. As a local government it maintains records related to residents, property, taxes, utilities, and public services. Municipal networks of this type routinely store personal identifiers, financial information, and operational documents required for day-to-day administration.

What data was at risk

The only detail released is that internal files were allegedly exfiltrated. The precise categories of information contained in those files have not been disclosed. Local governments commonly hold names, addresses, tax records, utility billing data, and employee information, yet it is not confirmed whether any of these specific types were among the material listed by the group.

What's at stake

For individuals, the primary concern is the potential misuse of any personal or financial details that may have been included in the exfiltrated files. For the city, the incident adds to the workload of restoring systems, notifying affected parties if required, and reviewing security controls. Both outcomes depend on details that have not yet been made public.

Were you affected?

Residents can begin by monitoring bank and credit accounts for unusual activity and placing fraud alerts if they receive any direct notification from the city. Checking official city communications for updates on the incident provides the most reliable next step. Individuals may also run a free exposure scan of their email address against known breach data to see whether their information appears in previously published listings.

AICompiled with AI assistance from public sources and published under our editorial standards.