Priya Patel
TLDR:
- The Tarrant Appraisal District’s website experienced a “network disruption” causing it to be down for a few hours
- No sensitive data was believed to have been affected, and the district is working with cybersecurity experts to assess the issue
In a recent incident, the Tarrant Appraisal District’s website in Texas went down for a few hours due to a “network disruption.” Officials from the district have confirmed that they are currently working with independent cybersecurity experts to understand the issue further. While the full cause of the disruption is still unknown, the district has stated that they do not believe any sensitive data was compromised during the incident.
The chief appraiser, Joe Don Bobbitt, assured the public that steps are being taken to investigate the matter thoroughly. The district’s website was quickly restored by the IT staff, but phone and email access are still being addressed. This disruption comes after a recent cyber attack on the district in 2022, which did not result in any compromised taxpayer information.
The incident at the Tarrant Appraisal District adds to a growing list of cybersecurity challenges faced by organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Recent data security breaches in the region have affected entities like UT Southwestern Medical Center and Dallas County, underscoring the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in today’s digital landscape.
As investigations into the network disruption continue, the Tarrant Appraisal District remains committed to securing their systems and protecting taxpayer information. With the support of cybersecurity experts, the district aims to prevent future disruptions and ensure the integrity of their operations moving forward.
