Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Port of Seattle experienced a cyberattack impacting operations
- Director advises investing in cybersecurity
Nearly three weeks after identifying unauthorized activity on its network, the Port of Seattle continues to recover from a suspected cyberattack that impacted various operations. The airport’s travel experience is back to normal, but websites are still down, and services like lost and found are inaccessible. Port officials have not disclosed details about the attack, but Executive Director Steve Metruck emphasized the importance of investing in cybersecurity. The incident has prompted the Port to accelerate technical changes and have a plan for maintaining operations in case of future attacks.
Full Article:
Nearly three weeks after identifying unauthorized activity on its network, the Port of Seattle continues to recover from a suspected cyberattack that impacted various operations. The airport’s travel experience is back to normal, but websites are still down, and services like lost and found are inaccessible. Port officials have not disclosed details about the attack, but Executive Director Steve Metruck emphasized the importance of investing in cybersecurity. The incident has prompted the Port to accelerate technical changes and have a plan for maintaining operations in case of future attacks.
Metruk mentioned that the cyber incident is common, citing a recent attack on Highline Public Schools. He advised organizations to invest in cybersecurity and be prepared with workarounds for critical processes. The Port is providing updates about the outage on its website, with more information to come once the investigation is complete.
The cyberattack did not disrupt flights at Sea-Tac Airport but impacted services like WiFi and baggage handling. Airport workers had to resort to manual methods for flight information and boarding passes. Metruck said the incident has been a catalyst for implementing technical changes and accelerating plans that were in the queue.
Overall, the Port of Seattle’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity investment and preparedness in the face of cyber threats.
