WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers are demanding $6 million in bitcoin from the operator of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for documents they stole during a cyberattack last month and posted on the dark web this week, an airport official said Wednesday.
The Port of Seattle, which owns and runs the airport, has decided not to pay, the official said.
The airport previously linked the attack to a ransomware gang called Rhysida, and now the FBI is conducting a criminal investigation, said Lance Lyttle, the port’s managing director of aviation.
Lyttle told a U.S. Senate committee that the airport appears to have stopped the attack, but the hackers were able to encrypt some data.
“On Monday, they posted on their dark website a copy of eight files stolen from Port systems and are seeking 100 bitcoin to buy the data,” Lyttle said.
Lyttle did not describe the documents. He said the airport will contact any individuals whose personal information might have been stolen.
Port officials have said paying the ransomware would not be a good use of taxpayer money.