Hackers demand $6 million for files stolen from Seattle airport operator in cyber attack

Hackers are demanding $6 million in bitcoin from the operator of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for documents they stole in a cyber attack last month and posted on the dark web this week, an airport official said .

The Port of Seattle, which owns and operates the airport, decided not to pay, the official said.

The airport previously linked the attack to a ransomware gang called Rhysida, and the FBI is now conducting a criminal investigation, said Lance Lyttle, the port’s general manager of aviation.

Lyttle told a US Senate committee that the airport appears to have stopped the attack, but the hackers were able to encrypt some data.

“On Monday, they posted on their dark site a copy of eight files stolen from the port systems and are looking for 100 bitcoins to buy the data,” Lyttle said.

Lyttle did not describe the documents. He said the airport would contact anyone whose personal information may have been stolen.

Port officials said paying for the ransomware would not be a good use of taxpayer money.

The airport is still recovering from the attack, which began on August 24. The attack was launched during a busy time, a week before the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Flights were able to operate, but the attack resulted in disruptions to ticketing, check-in kiosks and baggage handling. Passengers on smaller airlines had to use paper boarding passes.

The mayor of Columbus, Ohio, said last month that Rhysida was behind a data breach of the city’s systems. The mayor downplayed the value of the stolen data and said the city never received a ransom demand.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TOPICS
Cyber ​​Fraud Aviation