Tarrant Appraisal District says a criminal ransomware attack shut down its website

The Tarrant Appraisal District disclosed on Friday that a network disruption experienced on Thursday was the result of a criminal ransomware attack.

Following the discovery of the network disruption, the TAD promptly took measures to secure their network and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to identify the cause of the disruption and devise a plan to restore services.

Subsequent investigation revealed the occurrence of a ransomware attack, as confirmed by the agency in a statement released on Friday afternoon. The incident has been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Texas Department of Information Resources, with assurances of full cooperation in any ensuing investigation.

Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt stated on Thursday that there is currently no indication that sensitive information was compromised in the disruption. However, the agency pledges to take appropriate steps to notify affected parties should this situation change.

As of Friday, efforts are ongoing to fully restore operations. While the TAD website remains accessible, the functionality to search for records is temporarily offline. Additionally, phone and email services are disrupted, as indicated by a statement on the TAD website.

The Tarrant Appraisal District is responsible for determining property values for ad valorem taxation purposes across Tarrant County, with its website serving as a vital resource for property owners and real estate professionals.

Further updates will be provided during an upcoming board meeting scheduled for Monday.