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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Ransomware Group Targets Port Of Seattle With Bitcoin Extortion Demand

The Port of Seattle is facing a serious cybersecurity threat as the ransomware group known as Rhysida has made headlines with a bold extortion attempt. On Monday, the cybercriminals released a 100-bitcoin ransom demand—approximately $5.9 million—as well as screenshots of documents they claim to have stolen from the port’s systems.

The leaked images allegedly include sensitive information such as a scanned U.S. passport, tax identification forms, Social Security numbers, and other personally identifiable information (PII). The group has threatened to sell this data on the dark web if the Port of Seattle does not comply with their demands within a week.

In a statement released on Friday, the Port of Seattle and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport confirmed their refusal to pay the ransom. A spokesperson for the port was not available for comments on Monday. The statement warned that the refusal to meet the demand could lead to the public posting of the stolen data on the group’s dark web site.

While the exact extent of the data breach remains unclear, the Port of Seattle has identified the incident as a ransomware attack linked to Rhysida, a ransomware-as-a-service operation that enables cybercriminals to exploit its platform for extortion. This group has been active since June 2023, targeting various entities globally, with a significant number of attacks reported in the United States. Data from eCrime.ch, a cybercrime research platform, indicates that Rhysida has listed nearly 150 victims since its emergence.

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The Port of Seattle first detected “system outages consistent with a cyberattack” on August 24, prompting immediate measures to isolate critical systems from further compromise. As a result of the attack, several services were disrupted, including baggage handling, check-in kiosks, ticketing, Wi-Fi, passenger display boards, the Port of Seattle website, the flySEA app, and reserved parking.

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