A recent ransomware attack has caused widespread disruptions in property listings across the United States, affecting the ability of real estate agents to add or update property information. The attack targeted California-based data services company Rapattoni, which hosts essential multiple listing services for the real estate industry. These services are crucial for regional MLS databases, enabling brokers to share information and market properties.
While the exact nature of the attack and its impact are still being assessed, Rapattoni reported a system outage on August 8 and is diligently working to restore its systems.
The real estate industry heavily relies on Rapattoni’s services to identify new properties, update listings, and facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers. With the automatic processes disrupted by the attack, many regional MLS providers have resorted to manual methods to maintain their operations.
Even major platforms like Zillow have been forced to input data manually due to the attack. The financial consequences for real estate agents have been notable, as a temporary inability to list properties can affect their earnings.
To mitigate the impact of the outage, an alliance of seven MLS entities in Northern California has been sharing data every 15 minutes. In response to the attack, regional MLS providers have taken creative measures, such as the creation of Facebook pages for manual listing information sharing. While the exact details of the ransomware attack are still unfolding, the disruption to property listings serves as a reminder of the growing threats faced by industries reliant on digital infrastructure and data management.
