Key points
- The Bankruptcy Noticing Center is offline, halting the production and distribution of notices for all US federal bankruptcy courts.
- BAE Systems operates the affected systems on behalf of the Federal Judiciary and confirmed the incident is isolated to the BNC.
- Multiple related websites, including the National Creditor Registration Service, are currently unavailable to users.
The short version
- All access to BAE Systems-operated BNC websites and systems is temporarily unavailable.
- The production and distribution of bankruptcy notices for federal courts have been paused.
- Authorities are investigating the incident, with no details yet on data exposure or attribution.
The details
Creditor and debtor communities relying on official court communications are currently unable to receive standard bankruptcy notices. The Bankruptcy Noticing Center, which produces and transmits these documents for every federal bankruptcy court in the United States, has lost functionality. According to the Administrative Office of the US Courts, a cybersecurity incident impacting BAE Systems has taken the platform offline. BAE Systems operates the BNC systems and websites on behalf of the Federal Judiciary.
The outage affects multiple digital touchpoints used by legal professionals and the public. Users attempting to access bnc.uscourts.gov, bankruptcynotices.uscourts.gov, or notices.uscourts.gov will find these services unavailable. The National Creditor Registration Service is also offline. The Administrative Office of the US Courts confirmed the disruption in a statement on Thursday afternoon, noting that the incident has halted the BNC’s production and distribution processes.
BAE Systems stated it is aware of the security incident and has taken immediate steps to address it. The company confirmed the issue is isolated to the BNC system. It is coordinating closely with the Administrative Office of the US Courts on the response. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency referred questions regarding the incident to the US Courts, indicating that the judiciary is leading the public communication on this matter.
The context
BAE Systems is a British multinational defence, aerospace, and security company headquartered in London. It provides military equipment, weapons, advanced electronics, and cybersecurity systems to governments and armed forces globally. While the company is primarily known for its defence contracts, it also manages critical IT infrastructure for government entities, including the US Federal Judiciary. This incident highlights the reliance of public institutions on private contractors for essential digital services.
There is no official confirmation or clarification on the company’s main website regarding the breach. However, BAE Systems provided a statement to BleepingComputer confirming the investigation is underway. Authorities have not yet released details on the nature of the attack, the potential exposure of any data, or the attribution of the threat actors. The focus remains on restoring operations and assessing the impact on court proceedings.
Defender's checklist
- Monitor official court websites for updates on service restoration.
- Verify the status of the National Creditor Registration Service before submitting new registrations.
- Check with local court clerks for alternative methods of receiving notices during the outage.
- Review internal protocols for handling delayed official court communications.
If your data is involved
If you are a creditor, debtor, or attorney involved in bankruptcy proceedings, you should check your physical mail and email for any delayed notices. Scammers often exploit service outages to send fake notices demanding urgent action or payment. Verify any unexpected requests by contacting your attorney or the court clerk directly through known, official channels. Do not click links in unsolicited messages claiming to resolve the outage. Monitor your accounts for unusual activity and ensure your contact details are up to date with the court to receive future communications once services resume.
What to do and how to stay safe: BAE Systems
- Contact your legal representative to confirm the status of any pending cases or filings.
- Verify the authenticity of any official-looking notices received during the outage period.
- Check the official US Courts website for updates on service restoration timelines.
- Ensure your contact information is current with the court to facilitate future communications.
Step-by-step guide: What is online tracking: how data follows you and how to stop it
General security guidance from the Cipher Insider newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What services are currently offline due to the BAE Systems incident?
The Bankruptcy Noticing Center, including bnc.uscourts.gov, bankruptcynotices.uscourts.gov, notices.uscourts.gov, and the National Creditor Registration Service, are all unavailable.
Has BAE Systems confirmed if any data was stolen?
No, there are no details yet on data exposure or attribution according to the source material.
Who is operating the Bankruptcy Noticing Center?
BAE Systems operates the BNC systems and websites on behalf of the Federal Judiciary.
