August cyberattack at Port of Seattle exposed data of 90,000 people

The Port of Seattle revealed on April 3, 2025, that a cyberattack in August 2024 compromised the personal data of approximately 90,000 individuals. The breach primarily affected current and former employees, contractors, and parking customers, exposing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and medical data. Port officials reassured the public that critical systems, including passenger payment and federal security operations, remained secure throughout the incident. Notifications are being mailed to those affected, with around 71,000 of them living in Washington state. The attack was first detected on August 24, 2024, when IT staff noted unusual system outages.

In response, the Port activated its incident response plan and engaged cybersecurity experts to mitigate the threat. To prevent future breaches, the Port has fortified its systems and is providing free credit monitoring services to those impacted. This incident underscores the growing risks associated with cyberattacks on public infrastructure and the need for continuous vigilance in data security.