THE Medusa ransomware gang earlier this week claimed responsibility for a March cyberattack on the Tarrant County Appraisal District and is threatening to disclose 218GB of stolen data with a six-day deadline if the $100,000 ransom is not paid.
The Tarrant County Appraisal District determines property values in Fort Worth, Texas, AND released an update informing the public that the personal information of approximately 300 people had been affected.
“On March 21, 2024, Tarrant County Appraisal District suffered a network outage. In response to the discovery, we have taken steps to protect our network and are working with leading independent cybersecurity experts to assist in the investigation, response and recovery process,” said Jon Don Bobbitt, chief appraiser of the Tarrant Appraisal District , in a statement.
Affected individuals will be contacted to assist them in protecting their personal information, but they are advised to report any suspicious activity as soon as possible.
The attack has been reported to the FBI and work is underway to restore operations, although the county has offered no update on whether a ransom has been paid.