Cyber security emergency: checkmate in the Dallas court

Cyber attacks undermine the security of vital data, which can cause dramatic consequences. A case in point occurred recently in the United States, when the Dallas Municipal Courthouse became the target of such an attack. The result was catastrophic: the building was closed for nearly a month. This incident prompted KBTX to investigate the reality of cyber security in the local county of Brazos.

Cyber attacks and the key role of computer security

“You can never assume it won't happen,” says Chief Information Security Officer Kevin Joyner, emphasizing the strength and breadth of cyberenemies. Joyner is the Cyber Security Command in Brazos County, tasked with protecting the courthouse and other entities from potential ransomware attacks. He explains that attackers, in many cases, intend to obtain users' credentials: "They try to obtain login information, user IDs and passwords," says Joyner, "these are then sold on the dark web to others who can use them to evil purposes".

A victim of ransomware and the importance of protecting personal data

A Brazos County resident experienced the severity of a ransomware attack firsthand, losing all of his life savings to it. "We talked to some supervisors and they said the account balance is $0," says Shoukat Dharani. After months of negotiations, Dharani finally got her money back, but her experience underscores the importance of protecting personal data. "You have to be proactive about these things, so change your password regularly, use a VPN, and don't answer personal questions over the phone," advises Dharani.

The readiness of local authorities to face future attacks

Regarding cybersecurity in our local courthouse and administration building, Kevin Joyner and his team ensure that we are prepared for any ransomware attacks. “When something happens, we are ready and can intervene as quickly as possible,” Joyner says firmly, underlining the resilience and preparedness of his team.