Fidelity National Financial Ransomware Attack Sparks Chaos for Homeowners and Buyers
Cyberattack Disrupts Title Insurance and Mortgage Services
Last Tuesday, Fidelity National Financial (FNF), a major provider of title insurance and escrow services in North America, disclosed a significant cybersecurity incident that forced the company to shut down portions of its network. The attack has created widespread confusion and frustration among homeowners and prospective buyers relying on FNF’s services.
Customers Left in the Dark
Homeowners with mortgages and buyers in active transactions through FNF or its subsidiaries report being unable to access critical services or get answers from the company.
- One Illinois homeowner who sold a property for $397,000 through FNF subsidiary IPX 1031 told TechCrunch: “I feel like I’m getting the runaround. I don’t even know where my money is at.”
- Calls to IPX 1031 were met with an automated message acknowledging “a system-wide outage” affecting all email and system access.
- FNF’s corporate office phone lines similarly provided no direct access to representatives.
Limited Official Communication
FNF has maintained minimal public communication about the incident beyond its initial SEC filing, which stated:
“We blocked access to certain of our systems, which resulted in disruptions to our business… services related to title insurance, escrow, mortgage transactions, and real estate technology have been affected.”
The company’s website remained offline at the time of reporting, compounding customer frustrations.
Mortgage Payment Concerns Mount
Christine Youmans, a LoanCare customer (an FNF subsidiary servicing mortgages), expressed her concerns:
“Everything is shut down and no one can pay the mortgage and you can’t get them on the phone.”
LoanCare’s customer service line played an automated message referencing “the recent catastrophe” and promising assistance, but provided no specific guidance or timeline for resolution.
Ransomware Gang Claims Responsibility
The ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack via a post on their dark web site. This development suggests the incident may involve data encryption and potential extortion demands, though FNF has not confirmed these details.
Ongoing Impact and Concerns
The breach highlights several critical issues:
- Vulnerability of real estate transaction systems during critical closing periods
- Communication gaps during cybersecurity incidents
- Downstream effects on mortgage payments and home purchases
TechCrunch continues to investigate this developing story. Homeowners and buyers affected by the outage are encouraged to document all communication attempts and monitor their accounts for unusual activity.
For security researchers or individuals with additional information about this incident, you may contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely via Signal (+1 917 257 1382) or email ([email protected]).
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