Cyberattack cripples Puerto Rico toll collection system
Published:Wednesday | April 20, 2022 | 12:06 AM
Authorities in Puerto Rico said Tuesday that an electronic toll collection system was the target of a cyberattack over the weekend, the latest such incident in recent years.
The system, known as AutoExpreso, is run by a private operator called Professional Account Management.
It wasn’t immediately clear when the system would be back online and whether any confidential information was stolen. Officials said they would soon provide more details.
The incident reported Saturday comes three months after an attack crippled the internet provider, phone system and official online page of Puerto Rico’s Senate. Previously, in 2021, a cyberattack hit the website of a private company that took over the transmission and distribution of electricity in the United States territory.
Meanwhile, in 2020, an online scam tried to steal more than US$4 million from Puerto Rican government agencies, forcing authorities to freeze nearly US$3 million. That same year, hackers targeted the database of Puerto Rico’s fire department and demanded US$600,000 in an alleged extortion act.
AP