Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC), the busiest airport in the US Pacific Northwest, has been the target of a cyberattack that could result in delays for passengers and baggage issues.
“Earlier this morning, the Port of Seattle experienced certain system outages indicating a possible cyberattack,” the airport confirmed. “The port isolated critical systems and is in the process of working to restore full service and does not have an estimated time for return.”
By moving to manual methods, SEA-TAC and a few of its partner airlines gave passengers more control over the check-in and baggage pickup procedures.
Warning of potential delays and promising it was in the “process of working to restore full service,” Seattle-Tacoma Airport advised travellers to “give themselves extra time” as some of its “airline partners are currently providing manual bag tags and boarding passes.”
Cyberattack at Seattle-Tacoma Airport causes chaos
Customers were encouraged by SEA-TAC and some airlines to print their boarding cards at home and bring carry-on luggage only in order to minimize delays at the airport. In order to make tracking easier, Alaska Airlines advised customers to include their complete name and contact details on their luggage.
The cyberattack at Seattle-Tacoma Airport impacted the airport’s website, flight display boards, Wi-Fi, and lost-and-found systems, despite the lack of specific information about it.
The airport advised visitors to give them a call after revealing that ships were impacted by the cyberattack. The majority of the affected airlines were both domestic and international, including Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country, and JetBlue. Passengers were warned by SEA-TAC to double check travel details with their airlines and factor in extra time in case of delays.
To look into the matter, SEA-TAC is collaborating with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection, and outside cybersecurity specialists.
The restoration schedule for the affected systems is still unknown, though. Three days after the cyberattack, the airport’s systems were still unavailable, which may indicate a ransomware issue.
“Port teams continue to make progress on returning systems to normal operations, but there is not an estimated time for return,” SEA-TAC said.
The Seattle-Tacoma cyberattack has not yet been attributed to any cybergang. While ransom talks are still open, cybercrime organizations usually stay quiet about their cyberattacks.
But when the affected company isn’t eager to negotiate, they typically name the victim on a dark web data leak website and threaten to post the stolen information online. Because paying the ransom hardly ensures data recovery and encourages hackers to carry out future assaults, the FBI advises against companies doing so.
“The cyberattack on the Port of Seattle, affecting the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s IT systems, serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure,” said Nick Tausek, Lead Security Automation Architect at Swimlane. “Airports, which serve as vital hubs in the global transportation network, specifically with Sea-Tac as the busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest region, are increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals.”
“Threats to shipping ports, airports, and other physical infrastructure can not only create a nightmare for travelers but also emphasize the fragility of many of these interconnected systems and cause lasting supply chain issues. This incident underscores the need for continuous vigilance to protect the operational integrity of such essential services,” added Tausek.
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