A ransomware group called Rhysida has reportedly stolen sensitive personal data from the Maryland Department of Transportation and is now auctioning it off for 30 Bitcoin, equivalent to about $3.4 million. The stolen information includes social security numbers, addresses, and birthdates. The Maryland Department of Transportation has confirmed that an unauthorized access incident is under investigation, urging employees and users to enhance their security measures, such as updating passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. Despite a 35% decline in ransomware payments in 2024, victims still reported a staggering total of $813 million in extortion payments. Rhysida has been active since at least 2023, targeting several sectors, including education and government, and is known for threatening the publication of sensitive data if ransom demands are not met, typically demanding payments in cryptocurrencies due to their difficult traceability. The investigation into the Maryland incident is ongoing, and officials have not disclosed further specifics on the compromised data.

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