Cyberattack disrupts Puerto Rico’s driver’s license issuing agency

Officials at Puerto Rico's Department of Transportation have cancelled all upcoming driver's license, permit, and vehicle registration appointments at the Centros de Servicios al Conductor agency following a cyberattack discovered earlier this week, according to The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future.

All systems at the Transportation Department have also been taken down in the wake of the intrusion, which was immediately contained, said Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service Executive Director Poincare Diaz, who emphasized that there has been no evidence suggesting any data compromise. More details regarding the nature of the attack were not provided.

"Our absolute priority is the protection of Puerto Ricans' data. Our specialized technical teams have been working around the clock to determine the scope of this event and to check each system to ensure the total integrity of the information before proceeding with the restoration of services," said Diaz.

Such a development comes amid escalating attacks against the Puerto Rican government in the past few years, with various agencies having been impacted by a third-party hack in December and the Puerto Rican Justice Department compromised in a June breach.