More than a week after a ransomware attack crashed Steamship Authority IT systems and communications, the ferry line announced Saturday morning that its website was back up and running, allowing customers to make vehicle reservations online for the first time in 10 days.
The website, which had no noticeable differences from the pre-attack website, was accessible at the boat line’s former domain (steamshipauthority.com) — and marks the most dramatic return to normalcy since last week’s debilitating cyber breach.
The news was announced in an email by SSA spokesman Sean Driscoll just after 9 a.m. Saturday morning.
Reservations can also still be booked by calling the Mashpee reservation office at 508-477-8600, as well as in person at all terminals, according to the update, the announcement said. The boat line has also lifted all restrictions on the time frame in which customers can book reservations, allowing them until Oct. 18, 2021 — the end of the late summer schedule.
Credit card access is also now available at terminals, the update said, and the reservation office has extended its hours to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through Sunday to assist customers. Wait list requests for travel from July 1, 2021 are also starting to be processed, and wait list requests before that date will be processed in the near future, the announcement said.
All reservations made prior to the attack are still being honored, according to the update.
No further details were provided about the attack which occurred on June 2. In a text message, Mr. Driscoll declined further comment.
The monthly boat line board of governors meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning was canceled without explanation.
The attack shut down the boat line’s internal communications systems and technology infrastructure. Manual operations were begun using storm protocols already in place. Reservations were paused, cash was requested at terminals, paper tickets were issued and customers without reservations were required to travel via standby. A few days ago phone lines were reopened in Mashpee.
Service continued running throughout the aftermath of the attack, with only minor delays.
The SSA has offered no public information about the origin or extent of the ransomware attack. State and federal law enforcement, including the FBI, have been leading the investigation.
“The Steamship Authority is continuing to work with our team internally, as well as with local, state, and federal officials externally, to address the June 2, 2021, ransomware incident,” the Saturday announcement said. “Our investigation into this incident is ongoing, and with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity and forensic investigators we are working to determine the full nature and scope of the event. We will continue to provide updates as appropriate.
“Thank you to our customers for their patience as we have worked to restore access to our reservations systems, and a special thank you to our employees for all of their hard work.”
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