San Diego port hit by ransomware attack

The San Diego port operator has been trapped by ransomware.

The Port issued a statement that malware had infiltrated its computer network and was disrupting the administration systems.

He said that the attack had not prevented ships or boats from using the port, or endangered members of the public.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are helping the Port to investigate and clean up after the outbreak.

"It's mainly an administrative problem and normal harbor operations continue as usual," Randa Coniglio, chief executive of the port, said in a statement.

The main impact would be on the issuance of park permits, requests for public documents and general business services, added.

The port said some of the disruption was due to staff shutting down computers that could be compromised as the ransomware began to spread.

The organization did not specify what malware had been used during the attack, but added that hackers were behind the payment request in Bitcoins.

The port is only one of the many industries related to navigation that have been affected by the ransomware.

In July, China Ocean Shipping Company's Long Beach terminal was briefly shut down by a malware attack.

Last year, shipping giant Maersk was among the most notorious victims of the NotPetya virus and said his company had been hit for a few weeks. He said the outbreak had cost about $ 200 million (153 million pounds) to the company.