ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) has confirmed its website is down due to a “credible and ongoing cybersecurity threat.”
Real estate attorneys found the site to access the state’s index of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings was down for “maintenance” on Monday morning.
One attorney told Atlanta News First Investigates something was amiss with the website because the GSCCCA always provides notice for scheduled maintenance, which never occurs on a Monday morning.
The GSCCCA holds real estate and personal property records, including deeds, liens, and mortgages and oversees the central database of notaries and apostilles including birth and marriage certificates.
“Due to a credible and ongoing cybersecurity threat, the Clerks’ Authority activated its defensive security protocols, which include temporarily restricting access to its website and related services,” a GSCCCA spokesperson said. “We are committed to ensuring that our systems will be operational as soon as possible. However, out of an abundance of caution, we continue to test and analyze our systems before they are made accessible to ensure maximum safety.
“Please know that we do not take the inconvenience lightly,” the spokesperson said. “Our team has been working around the clock to make sure systems are safe to use by our customers and staff. We will update as systems are brought back online.”
The GSCCCA did not confirm reports of a ransomware group data breach.
Atlanta News First Investigates found ransomware notification sites stating a group posted on the dark web Friday, claiming they had 500GB of the state’s data and demanding a $400,000 ransom.
The GSCCCA did not confirm the ransom demand or if any data had been compromised.
Cybersecurity experts recommend the following safety precautions:
Legal professionals and real estate stakeholders should:
- Verify property documents against county-level originals in person.
- Review title histories for inconsistencies or anomalies.
- Confirm lien, mortgage, and deed statuses before completing any active transactions.
- Prepare to implement additional verification procedures for closings and filings.
Watch Uncovered by ANF Investigates every Sunday at 7 p.m. on Atlanta News First.
Georgia property owners should:
- Monitor suspicious property-related communications or attempts.
- Review personal financial accounts and credit reports for irregularities.
- Be cautious of phishing attempts referencing legal filings or property documentation.
- Use trusted tools such as Malwarebytes to detect malware and unsafe links.
Pro-consumer website Comparitech reported 71 confirmed ransomware attacks on U.S. government entities so far in 2025, with an average ransom demand is $1.2 million.
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