Muni Hack Cost SFMTA $50K In Lost Fares; Agency Says Hackers Are Bluffing About Data Leak

Muni Hack Cost SFMTA $50K In Lost Fares; Agency Says Hackers Are Bluffing About Data LeakPhoto: WarzauWynn/flickr
Brittany Hopkins
Published on December 02, 2016

After hackers claimed to have taken control of nearly a quarter of the agency's computer network and stolen 30 gigabytes of sensitive data last weekend, the SFMTA continues to refuse to hand over their requested $73,000 ransom. But it's taken a financial hit nonetheless. 

SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose told the Chronicle today that the agency lost about $50,000 in fares while its ticketing system was offline from Friday afternoon through Saturday night. 

According to the Chronicle's report, the SFMTA shut down ticketing machines to "stop the spread of the cyberattack and to ensure that passengers’ financial information couldn’t be accessed."

As for the hackers' claims that they plan to release sensitive customer and employee data if their demands are not met by today, Rose told the Chron that after discussing the matter with Homeland Security and its own computer security experts, SFMTA officials have come to the conclusion that the hackers were bluffing, and plan to ignore their demands.