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# HHS Hit By Cyberattack to Disrupt Virus Actions
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/hhs-hit-by-cyberattack-to-disrupt-virus-actions/
- Published: 2020-03-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:07:19.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5146333

The U.S. government is warning that a 3/15 cyberattack against Health and Human Services’ computer systems was part of a disinformation campaign designed to disrupt the U.S. coronavirus response. The attack led to fake text messages being circulated that warn of a U.S.-wide quarantine being planned. The attack involved overloading HHS servers with millions of hits over several hours, *Bloomberg News* [reports](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-16/u-s-health-agency-suffers-cyber-attack-during-covid-19-response?ref=fdaweb.com), adding that it had no significant effect in disabling the department’s computer systems.

Just before midnight on Sunday (3/15), the National Security Council tweeted a vague warning about “fake” text messages. Officials believe the messages, spread by text, email and social media, were related to the HHS cyberattack, a government official told *Bloomberg*. President Trump is not considering a nationwide quarantine, White House officials say.