There has been a cyber attack on a part of the Pennsylvania Courts online system.
The Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, Deborah Todd, stated that the Pennsylvania court website had been targeted by a denial of service attack (DDoS).
Specific court systems like PACFile, online docket sheets, PAePay, and the Guardianship Tracking System have been impacted.
Law enforcement agencies are now working to assess the extent of the attack.
“Our court’s IT and executive team are collaborating with law enforcement, including CISA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the F.B.I., to investigate the incident,” announced the Chief Justice in an official statement.
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— PA Courts (@PACourts) February 5, 2024
This cyber attack is causing difficulties for litigants, lawyers, and other crucial court stakeholders who depend on the court’s online systems for legal preparations.
“Currently, there is no evidence that any court data has been compromised, and our courts will continue to be open and accessible to the public,” assured the Chief Justice.
The Pennsylvania courts are hoping that all data remains secure and that the investigative authorities can restore the essential functions that keep the court operations running smoothly.
For updates on the Pennsylvania Court website’s restoration, follow the organization’s social media account.
What is a DDoS cyber attack?
A denial of service attack (DDoS) is a deliberate effort by a third party to disable a digital system by attacking and disrupting essential functions.
Usually, this is done as a precursor to compromising information or a system. In some cases, the attackers may demand a ransom for stolen data or release an official statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
In 2024, cyber attacks more than doubled. According to Armis, in January, many breaches and security threats were caused by outdated systems.
Earlier this month, the FBI successfully eliminated the Volt Typhoon botnet after identifying compromised routers. The coordinated operation prevented re-infection of the routers and removed the hackers’ deployed malware.
FBI Director Christopher Wray stated, “Volt Typhoon malware allowed China to operate covertly as they targeted critical sectors like communications, energy, transportation, and water. The FBI considers their actions a serious threat to our physical safety and will not tolerate it.”
Image credit: Pete Linforth from Pixabay
