--- title: "Malware Shut Down Philadelphia Court System for Weeks" description: "A computer virus has completely brought Philadelphia's online court system to its knees since May 21, as The Verge reports." date: "2019-06-11" modified: "2019-06-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/malware-shutdown-philadelphia-court-system" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "computer virus" - "cybercriminal" - "ransomware" - "the digest" --- # Malware Shut Down Philadelphia Court System for Weeks ![A computer virus has completely brought Philadelphia's online court system to its knees since May 21, as The Verge reports.]() *\Image: Bruce Emmerling/Victor Tangermann\* ## Virus Shutdown First, the city of Baltimore [was held hostage]() by cybercriminals. Now it's Philadelphia's turn. A computer virus has completely brought Philadelphia's online court system to its knees since May 21, [*The Verge* reports](). Document filing systems, email servers, and the court's website were taken down as [a precautionary measure](). Little other information has come to light — likely an attempt to keep details of court proceedings from leaking to the public. But it doesn't bode well for municipalities that often have very little in the way of protection from cyber attacks. ## Risk of Losing Homes Most vulnerable are Philadelphia residents trying to delay a bank from foreclosing on their homes. Postponement filings to delay the repossessions are in danger of getting caught up in the chaos, according to *The Verge*. "Can they navigate a system that’s already under a lot of stress?" Rachel Gallegos, a civil legal aid attorney asked *The Verge*. "It’s just chaotic." ## No End in Sight But for now, there's no end in sight. "There is no definitive timetable for when these services will be fully operational; however, we will continue to provide updates as they become available," the Philadelphia Courts wrote in a [public notice]() on May 31. "We do ask that due to our system still not functioning at its optimal ability you are patient with the staff," the Philadelphia court system wrote in [a tweet]() yesterday. **READ MORE:** [A computer virus has thrown Philadelphia’s court system into chaos]() \[*The Verge*\] **More on ransomware:** *[Cybercriminals Are Holding an Entire US City Hostage]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()