Did you catch the recent news regarding a cyber attack in Maryland? There was a massive service interruption. In August of 2025, a hacker organization named Rhysdia, abducted the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). After the malicious hackers attacked, citizens could not receive updates on buses, such as their exact location, nor could they track or witness their approximate status. Citizens were left on the bus, waiting for the bus, not knowing when the bus would arrive.
The hackers claim to have stolen private information, including social security numbers, driver's license information, addresses, and passport information. In return for the private information, Rhysdia is asking for 30 Bitcoins, which is around 3.3 million dollars.
The amount is staggering money. Veronica Battisti of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) said they received some of their data back but are still trying to assess what has been compromised. If your private information was compromised, the state will contact you to explain what to do next. The MDOT is utilizing experts to help remediate the situation caused by the ransomware attack and ensure the systems remain safe.
Rhysida seems to be busy, tallying 8 ransomware attacks and 45 other unverifiable claims so far this year. This is a clear indication the frequency and gravity of a cyber attack is increasing. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Are our governmental systems secure in the same capacity?
This occurrence is meant to indicate that cyber threats will impact usage in everyday business and even in simpler tasks of checking the bus schedule. It also illustrates just how crucial good cybersecurity is for organizations and for the public. I hope that the state of Maryland can move most quickly to address the situation and secure the information of all people!
The hackers claim to have stolen private information, including social security numbers, driver's license information, addresses, and passport information. In return for the private information, Rhysdia is asking for 30 Bitcoins, which is around 3.3 million dollars.
The amount is staggering money. Veronica Battisti of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) said they received some of their data back but are still trying to assess what has been compromised. If your private information was compromised, the state will contact you to explain what to do next. The MDOT is utilizing experts to help remediate the situation caused by the ransomware attack and ensure the systems remain safe.
Rhysida seems to be busy, tallying 8 ransomware attacks and 45 other unverifiable claims so far this year. This is a clear indication the frequency and gravity of a cyber attack is increasing. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Are our governmental systems secure in the same capacity?
Here are ways to protect yourself:
- Do not click on a link in an email or message, if it looks suspicious.
- Strong password is a must, letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Two-step verification should be employed vs. only relying on passwords.
- Keep your devices updated, so the attacker cannot take advantage of an exploit that is publicly known.
This occurrence is meant to indicate that cyber threats will impact usage in everyday business and even in simpler tasks of checking the bus schedule. It also illustrates just how crucial good cybersecurity is for organizations and for the public. I hope that the state of Maryland can move most quickly to address the situation and secure the information of all people!