Ransomware Incident Strikes Maryland’s Transportation Agency

A ransomware group calling themselves Rhysida has allegedly breached the Maryland Department of Transportation. They’re claiming to auction off sensitive personal details on the dark web. This nefarious group indicates they’re in possession of critical data, including full names, birthdays, and home addresses of agency employees. They’ve even released photos of items like a Maryland driver’s license, a passport, and a Social Security card to back up their claims.

In their somewhat taunting manner, Rhysida invited potential buyers to “open your wallets” for an auction of the data, which will wrap up soon. The bidding starts, astonishingly, at 30 Bitcoin—over $3 million, by today’s standards.

Maryland Transit Administration’s Veronica Battisti has confirmed some data was lost but maintains discretion on specifics due to the ongoing investigation. She assured that if personal data is confirmed compromised, affected individuals will be notified as per state law to ensure proper steps are followed.

The state’s information technology department is working closely with cybersecurity experts to get to the bottom of this situation. Rhysida, known for targeting several sectors like education, healthcare, manufacturing, and government since 2023, is being tracked closely as this story develops.

Stay informed by checking back for updates. This investigation is ongoing and more details may soon unfold.

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