TOPEKA, Kan. – The court system in Kansas is making progress in bringing its computer system back online following a foreign cyberattack that occurred two months ago. The attack forced officials to shut down the system along with public access to documents and other systems. Now, the judicial branch has announced that the case management systems for district courts in 28 out of the state’s 105 counties are expected to be operational by Monday, with the remainder to follow by the end of the week. Public access to documents will be restored soon after, either online or through terminals at courthouses.
Additionally, the court system has managed to restore systems that allow people to apply for marriage licenses online and file electronic requests for orders of protection against abuse, stalking, and human trafficking. It’s a much-anticipated milestone in the recovery plan for the judicial branch.
The cyberattack, believed to be a sophisticated foreign attack, resulted in the theft of data and threats to post it on a dark website if specific demands were not met. However, officials have refrained from disclosing the hackers’ demands and whether a ransom was paid. The cost incurred in restoring the systems has also not been made public.
Chief Justice Marla Luckert acknowledged the progress but emphasized that there is still a lot of work to be done. The outage affected all counties except Johnson County, which has its own systems and is set to integrate into the state’s systems next year.
Initially referred to as a security incident, the attack is now recognized by cybersecurity experts as having the hallmarks of a ransomware attack. The lack of detailed information from court officials further supports this assessment. As a result of the shutdown, courts in the affected counties have resorted to paper filing, adding pressure to electronically log all filings in the weeks following the October 12 shutdown.
Once the district courts are fully operational, the electronic filing and case management systems for the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court will be restored. Measures have to be taken to address cybersecurity weaknesses in various state agencies, as highlighted in recent audits. The need for improved IT security measures has become evident.
The recent attacks and their impact remind us of the importance of securing our systems and ensuring the protection of sensitive data. The recovery of the judicial branch’s computer system is a significant step forward, but the incident highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and improved cybersecurity protocols in the face of ever-evolving threats.
