Round Rock attorney Matthew Tepper delivered the update Thursday during a TAD board meeting and said that while it was possible to access taxpayers’ confidential information, there was no evidence that happened.
Round Rock-based Apollo Information Systems was hired to look into the potential security breach.
Tepper said the investigation found significant vulnerabilities in the system in the spring of 2022
“There were two different pieces of malicious software, which did make their way onto TAD’s system that were placed there by some sort of a bad actor who should not have had access to the system, “ Tepper said. “Fortunately for TAD, and all the public in Tarrant County, when that malware was launched, they failed. So as a result, there was not a negative impact that was made.”
A full report will likely be released at the end of the year, according to appraisal board chairman Tony Pompa.
Rich DeOtte, board secretary, commended whistleblowers who spoke out about the deficiencies.
“We are where we are because there are truth tellers,” DeOtte said.
In August the Star-Telegram obtained a recording of a meeting during which TAD’s head of information systems said he supported creating a “false narrative” to media over the problems with the website.
The revamped website was plagued with problems after value notices were sent in April. Pages failed to load or timed out and an option to protest was missing for weeks.
Chandler Crouch, a Realtor and tax consultant who has been a vocal critic of the appraisal district, said he was pleased with the transparency of the investigation update.
“They took some big steps toward big steps in the honest direction and I think that there are some details that still are going to emerge,” Crouch said. “But the most important thing is that taxpayers are notified that their personal data was exposed.”
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