On April 2, 2025, the Port of Seattle posted a website notice confirming that the organization recently sent letters to those affected by an August 2024 data breach. In this notice, Port of Seattle explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their first and last names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, other government identification card numbers, and medical information. Upon completing its investigation, the Port of Seattle began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification from the Port of Seattle, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Port of Seattle data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Port of Seattle Data Breach?
The Port of Seattle data breach was previously announced, but the extent of the incident was only recently confirmed. While more information is expected in the near future, the Port of Seattle’s recent website notice provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on August 24, 2024, the Port of Seattle experienced an IT outage. In response, the Port of Seattle isolated its most critical systems, took other systems offline, reported the incident to federal law enforcement, and then launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity experts.
Through this investigation, the Port of Seattle confirmed that an unauthorized party was able to access and download personal information from certain systems. Primarily, the compromised files appeared to contain employee, contractor and parking data.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, the Port of Seattle reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your first and last name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, other government identification card number, and medical information.
On April 3, 2025, the Port of Seattle sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.
More Information About Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle is a public agency established in 1911, overseeing Seattle's seaport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (“Sea-Tac”). Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the port operates a diverse portfolio, including cargo and cruise terminals, marinas, and real estate holdings. As a key economic driver in the Pacific Northwest, the Port of Seattle facilitates international trade, transportation, and tourism, contributing significantly to regional economic growth. The organization employs approximately 2,150 people.
