The Port of Seattle experienced a possible cyberattack on Saturday which impacted Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, phone systems, and websites. The outage was first noticed around 9 a.m. PT and was described as an “internet and web systems outage.” By midnight, the Port reported that system outages were still ongoing and travelers were advised to check with their airlines for information, use airline apps for boarding passes, and allow extra time for travel to the airport and gates. It is unclear if the outage is causing flight delays at Sea-Tac Airport or impacting cruise travel in Seattle, but there were multiple canceled flights reported on Saturday and Sunday morning.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated they were aware of the outage and were working with their partners at the Port of Seattle, assuring that TSA operations at security checkpoints were not affected and that security screenings were being done as usual. The websites for both the Port and the airport were still down on Sunday morning, and the Port reported that their Maritime Facilities phone systems were also impacted by the outage.
The cyberattack on the Port of Seattle comes at a time of heightened concerns about cybersecurity threats to U.S. infrastructure. President Biden signed an executive order earlier in the year to strengthen cybersecurity at ports in America in response to foreign hackers targeting critical infrastructure. Additionally, the incident at the Port of Seattle happened just a month after a flawed update from cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike caused a global IT disruption, including at Sea-Tac and other airports across the country.
In 2021, the Port of Houston reported being targeted by suspected nation-state hackers, indicating that cybersecurity threats to ports and other critical infrastructure are a real and ongoing concern. The impact of these cyberattacks on operations, customer service, and security can have serious consequences and highlight the importance of investing in cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats. The incident at the Port of Seattle serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyberattacks and the need for proactive measures to prevent and respond to such incidents.
Despite the cyberattack, the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have continued their operations, with the TSA ensuring that security screenings are being conducted as usual. Travelers have been advised to check with their airlines for updates and use online resources for boarding passes and other travel information. The ongoing outages at the Port and the airport websites indicate the severity of the cyberattack and the challenges in restoring systems to full functionality. It is important for organizations to have robust cybersecurity measures in place to protect against cyber threats and ensure the continued operation of critical infrastructure.
