Several courts across California, including Shasta County, have lost their phone lines after a ransomware attack targeting the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. The court hosts phone servers for courts in Shasta, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus and Colusa Counties. The Shasta County Courthouse has been operating without phones, fax or text reminders due to the attack, which took place Friday. Webpages for the other courts all showed notifications that their phone systems were down. Ransomware attacks essentially hold a target computer or computer system hostage by encrypting its files and demanding payment for access to be restored. Melissa Fowler Bradley, Executive Officer for Shasta County Superior Court, says jurors are urged to check online if they are to report for jury duty, since many usually call a recorded line that lets them know if they have to report for jury duty the next day. Bradley said cases in Shasta County Superior Court have proceeded as usual. She was told the phone system could be back online by Wednesday, but it would more likely be over the weekend.
-Steve Gibson