Wednesday, October 7, 2026·Focal News

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Arizona courts say breach exposed records tied to fines, protection orders and foster care

A cyberattack on Arizona’s court system copied data connected to 1.3 million people with unpaid court obligations, along with records involving protection orders and foster-care cases. Court officials say the intrusion was stopped Sept. 24 and has not disrupted cases.

Arizona courts say breach exposed records tied to fines, protection orders and foster care
PHOENIX — A cyberattack on Arizona’s court system exposed information connected to about 1.3 million people with unpaid court fees, fines or restitution, the Arizona Supreme Court said Oct. 7. The records include matters involving traffic and criminal violations dating back as far as 30 years. The breach also involved nearly 30,000 active and inactive orders of protection and 150,000 reports from a foster-care board. The reports, dating to 2010, concern recommendations in cases where parents are alleged to be unable or unfit to care for a child. Investigators believe the attack began after a court employee clicked a malicious link in an email. Court technology staff detected the activity on a backup server and shut it down about two hours later, on Sept. 24. The court said it has since notified people affected by the breach. “We don’t have any evidence it has been used or shared” since the attack, Arizona Supreme Court spokesperson Alberto Rodriguez said Tuesday. The incident remains under investigation. Rodriguez said court cases have not been delayed or otherwise affected. No records were altered or deleted, and the breach did not involve information about jurors, witnesses or court employees. The exposure of protection-order records is particularly consequential because such documents can contain sensitive information about people seeking legal protection from abuse. The court has not reported evidence that stolen information was used or distributed.

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