Puerto Rico recovers toll payment system after kidnapping by “hackers”

The Government of Puerto Rico managed to recover the AutoExpreso toll payment system after being kidnapped by some "hackers" three weeks ago, so he hopes to have it ready for drivers next week.

This was disclosed this Monday by the executive director of the Highway and Transportation Authority (ACT), Edwin González, indicating that some technicians have managed to download 3.5 million of the more than 21 million transactions that have been registered since last April 16, the date of the data seizure.

"The system is up, but not yet for service to citizens"González said in a radio interview with the radio station WKAQ – 580 AM.

As detailed by the head of the ACT, on Sunday the computer technicians began to carry out tests to transfer the 21 million transactions to the toll system and on Monday morning, they had already "entered" 3.5 million transactions.

To achieve this, González admitted that the "’hackers’ were not paid anything" and that the toll network it was possible to restore with a security system with the data of the drivers in 375 computers and servers that IT technicians wiped down to prevent a second attack.

Given this, González said that he hopes that within the next 48 to 72 hours the AutoExpreso payment and recharge systems will be synchronized.

"This can happen to any company. We are strengthening the system"Gonzalez said, ensure that the ACT will not fine any driver for not having been able to recharge his toll account in the face of the situation.

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When entering the AutoExpreso page and trying to recharge, it presents this message: "Sorry, at the moment and until further notice our recharge system will be out of service. We remind you that during this period no fines will be issued or collected, although the system will continue to record tolls.".

"This will last until the system is fully recovered and the announcement is made public"ends the message.

According to González, the ACT will receive at least 21 million dollars -a dollar per toll- to drivers who have used the tolls since the cyberattack.

That amount of money, however, will not be charged "of cantazo (immediately)" to the users of the AutoExpreso, assured the official.

On April 26 last, González said that the "hackers" who attacked the toll system asked for money to release the data they obtained, but admitted today that the government did not give him any reward.

The operating company of AutoExpreso is Professional Account Management, which has ensured "that no evidence has been found that system user data has been compromised" EFE

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