Cyberattack Curbs Fingerprint Processing Across Nevada

The cyberattack that targeted Nevada’s state computer system has left residents in limbo, especially those needing fingerprint scans for work or firearms purchases.

Rachael Christopherson, co-owner of Big Mike’s Guns & Ammo in Fallon, said firearm sales have dropped sharply because fingerprint scans cannot be processed. But she noted that most of her fingerprint customers aren’t buying guns—they need scans for jobs or licenses. “People are waiting on fingerprints for teaching licenses, nursing licenses, cannabis cards, and contractor’s licenses,” she said.

Christopherson explained that her shop uses a livescan system that sends fingerprints to the Nevada Department of Public Safety, the same agency that processes law enforcement submissions. On Aug. 26, she was notified via email that all fingerprint submissions were suspended. By Sept. 3, she was told she could resume submitting them, but none were being processed yet.

In the meantime, she can still sell firearms to customers who already hold a Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit, but not to others. She said about half her customers hold the CCW, but she is losing business due to the cyberattack.

Governor Joe Lombardo addressed the issue in a Sept. 4 press conference, saying Nevada is ahead of the typical cyberattack recovery timeline, which often lasts weeks or months. He emphasized that the state prioritized restoring critical services first, including emergency response, payroll, unemployment insurance, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and health programs such as Medicaid. Residents who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) can still access in-person services while the Access Nevada website remains down.

The ransomware attack struck Nevada’s computer system on Sunday, Aug. 24. In response, the Governor’s Office and the Governor’s Office of Information Technology took some systems offline to isolate the threat. The state continues to work with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the attack’s origins.

For updates, visit oem.nv.gov/recovery