Jun 2, 2021 - Technology

Massachusetts Steamship Authority hit by ransomware attack

Shawna Chen

Photo of a white Steamship Authority ferry in the water — A Steamship Authority ferry approaches the Nantucket Terminal. Photo: Maddie Meyer via Getty Images

The largest ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket has been targeted by a ransomware attack that is causing travel delays, the Massachusetts Steamship Authority announced Wednesday.

Why it matters: Ransomware has recently become a "global pandemic" thanks to the rise of a profitable industry around it, Axios' Scott Rosenberg writes. In May, a similar attack on Colonial Pipeline, the U.S.'s largest refined-fuel pipeline operator, sent the Southeast into crisis.

Details: The attack happened Wednesday morning, according to the ferry service. A team of IT professionals has been deployed to assess the impact.

Steamship Authority said additional information will be available once the initial assessment is complete.

Worth noting: The cyberattack comes days after the world's largest meat processor was hit by ransomware.

The big picture: 2020 saw roughly $350 million in cryptocurrency payments to ransomware attackers, more than triple the previous year's take, per one study.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday President Biden will raise the issue of cyberattacks at his next meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Massachusetts Steamship Authority hit by ransomware attack

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