Belt Railway Company of Chicago reports ransomware data theft
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The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, the largest switching and terminal railroad in the U.S., is investigating a data theft incident perpetrated by the Akira ransomware group.
This railway company, co-owned by six railroad firms in the U.S. and Canada, offers switching and interchange facilities across its 28 miles of railroads. They provide movement and sorting of rail cars, efficiently sorting and organizing them to optimize the flow of goods and materials. Switching and terminal railroads play a crucial role in the logistics and transportation industry.
The ransomware attack resulted in the theft of 85 GB of data, but the company's operations remained unaffected. Belt Railway's general counsel, confirmed that they are collaborating with a cybersecurity firm and federal law enforcement to address the situation, with the investigation ongoing.
No details is available as to the data exposed nor the vector of attack.
This incident follows new cybersecurity rules set by the Transportation Security Administration for critical infrastructure like railroads.
