Ransomware attack hits Bexar County Appraisal District, email system down

SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Appraisal District confirmed Monday that it has turn out to be the sufferer of a ransomware attack.

The attack transpired Sunday at 10 a.m., and before long soon after, the team observed suspicious exercise and logged in to verify it out.

“Recovery attempts commenced just about straight away. We also notified the FBI,” mentioned BCAD Assistant Chief Appraiser Scott Griscom.

Griscom explained there was a ransom be aware, but hackers didn’t desire an total of income and didn’t depart get in touch with information and facts.

When requested how it transpired, Griscom said, “It doesn’t surface that an individual in fact clicked a hyperlink to initiate it but it does seem it came by electronic mail. As much as extra forensics we are continue to striving to establish that.”

Griscom explained following an preliminary evaluation, it appears to be like like hackers had been not able to attain accessibility to the appraisal data database, which has all the public’s sensitive home information.

“Our e-mail servers are down at this place. And a number of other very important units,” Griscom reported.

Advert

In scheduling the job interview with KSAT, team had to use a gmail handle they set up due to the fact their entire e-mail technique is even now down.

Other than sending and obtaining e-mail, Griscom explained the public shouldn’t see several effects appropriate now, but he’s asking for patience.

“Our website is even now available and is unaffected so the public can use it. Our mobile phone procedure is working with no issue so people can call,” he explained.

Griscom stated it could consider one or two days to restore damaged data files and get all devices back again up and jogging.

In the meantime, he has a message to all enterprises, federal government places of work, and individuals.

“Back up your knowledge,” he mentioned.

When asked if their workplace backs up their info, Griscom stated, “Absolutely. Which is what we’re applying to restore our functionality. Completely we again up a large amount,” Griscom said.

He explained the assault transpired to his workplace in spite of layers of protection and teaching, and it could have been a lot worse.

Advert

“We go via annual cybersecurity schooling. We just finished that not too long ago, in simple fact,” he reported.

Griscom explained it is a consistent fight to remain shielded from hackers.

“Unfortunately, they are so fluid in how promptly they change, that even with the actuality that we have major protections on our network, it is challenging to preserve up with. We do our greatest, but its even now hard to hold up with,” he stated.

Griscom stated he will continue to update the community as they locate out far more about the assault

Read also:

Copyright 2022 by KSAT – All legal rights reserved.

You may also like