Martha’s Vineyard Ferry Service Victim of Ransomware Attack

Some New England vacationers may have run into a bit of a hitch trying to get to Martha’s Vineyard at the beginning of the month, as the largest ferry service to the island was the victim of a ransomware attack. The website of Steamship Authority, which operates out of Wood’s Hole, had been taken offline, prohibiting the ability to buy tickets for the ferry online.

“12:30 p.m. update: The Steamship Authority was the target of a ransomware attack early Wednesday, June 2, 2021,” they tweeted. “The Authority continues to work internally, as well as with federal, state and local authorities, to determine the extent and origin of the attack.”

The attack did not affect the safety of passengers or any of the vessels in the fleet but did take down their ability to accept credit as a form of payment.

According to the Cape Cod Times, the FBI is working with the Coast Guard and the Massachusetts State Police Cyber Security Unit. The company has not revealed what, if any, data was compromised.