FORT WORTH, Texas — Cybersecurity experts like Martin Yarborough are warning property owners across Tarrant County.
After the Tarrant Appraisal District says it got hit by hackers with ransomware, Yarborough says Tarrant County property owners should take action immediately.
"I would be monitoring my credit," Yarborough said. "I would immediately go in and change any financial passwords that I had set up, either on bank accounts or bill pay. I would make my passwords very complex."
TAD said someone hacked into the agency's system on March 21, crashing its website. They've notified the FBI and the Texas Department of Information Resources. It's the second attack since 2022.
"More than likely they got into the same mechanism," Yarborough said.
TAD officials say they will not be paying the ransom, but instead making some cybersecurity upgrades. The upgrades include shifting to Microsoft Office 365 to improve security, auditing, and tooling. Also, TAD will buy SentinelOne software and enter an agreement with Improving Enterprises for network support, security and system review.
Yarborough is a certified ethical hacker and is experienced in conducting security risk assessments and penetration testing. His company does risk assessments. Yarborough is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from better efficiencies through assessments and educational practices as well as cybersecurity and disaster recovery.
"I am surprised that safeguards were not put into place to prevent or at least mitigate the chances of a ransomware infection," Yarborough said. "Not knowing the specifics, I don't know how the hackers got in, but more than likely they got into the same mechanism that they did last year or two years ago."
Chandler Crouch represents tens of thousands of Tarrant County property owners during appraisal protest season each year. Crouch is considered a property tax protest expert. He addressed the TAD board during its emergency meeting before they recessed for Executive Session to learn more about the breach and decide what to do about it. Executive Session is conducted behind closed doors.
Crouch said he is concerned about the timing of the new breach, which comes just weeks before TAD's April 15 deadline to send notices to property owners.
"I've got two messages," Crouch said. "Give us comfort by letting us know that you're going to put together a plan. That's the number-one thing. The second thing that I'm going to tell them is that this circumstance is exactly why we can't just forget about the past."
It's a past that is haunting the appraisal district once again. Either way, Board Chairman Vince Puente believes they can do what is necessary to be ready in April for the first wave of property appraisal challenges during protest season.
