Cyberattack Disrupts Puerto Rico’s Driver’s License and Vehicle Registration Services
Puerto Rico’s Department of Transportation has suspended all appointments at its Centros de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO) centers following a cyberattack detected on Monday. The incident forced the agency to take systems offline, halting services for driver’s licenses, permits, and vehicle registrations.
Officials from the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service (PRITS) confirmed the attack on Tuesday, stating that cybersecurity teams acted swiftly to disconnect affected systems. PRITS Executive Director Poincaré Díaz emphasized that protecting citizens’ data was the top priority, with teams working around the clock to assess the breach’s scope and ensure system integrity before restoring services. While the attack was reportedly "stopped" and no evidence of data theft has been found, the investigation remains ongoing.
The disruption has left residents frustrated, with many taking to social media to inquire about rescheduled appointments. As of Wednesday, the Department of Transportation and PRITS were still conducting technical tests before reopening CESCO operations. Neither agency has disclosed whether ransomware was involved.
This incident adds to a growing list of cyberattacks targeting Puerto Rico’s government. In December, a ransomware attack on an IT vendor disrupted multiple agencies, while the Justice Department suffered a breach in June 2025. Federal agencies, including the FBI and CISA, have previously assisted Puerto Rico in responding to cyber threats, such as an attack on the island’s water supply management system. Despite its status as an unincorporated U.S. territory, Puerto Rico often receives federal support similar to that of states.
Source: https://therecord.media/puerto-rico-gov-agency-cancels-driver-license-appointments-cyber-incident
Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/puerto-rico-innovation-and-technology-service
"id": "PUE1774455959",
"linkid": "puerto-rico-innovation-and-technology-service",
"type": "Cyber Attack",
"date": "3/2026",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "6",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the economy of geographical region"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'Residents of Puerto Rico',
'industry': 'Transportation/Government',
'location': 'Puerto Rico',
'name': 'Puerto Rico Department of Transportation',
'type': 'Government Agency'},
{'industry': 'Technology/Government',
'location': 'Puerto Rico',
'name': 'Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service '
'(PRITS)',
'type': 'Government Agency'}],
'customer_advisories': 'Residents advised to await updates on rescheduled '
'appointments',
'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'No evidence of data theft found'},
'date_detected': '2023-10-02',
'date_publicly_disclosed': '2023-10-03',
'description': 'Puerto Rico’s Department of Transportation suspended all '
'appointments at its Centros de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO) '
'centers following a cyberattack detected on Monday. The '
'incident forced the agency to take systems offline, halting '
'services for driver’s licenses, permits, and vehicle '
'registrations.',
'impact': {'customer_complaints': 'Residents expressed frustration on social '
'media',
'operational_impact': 'Suspension of all appointments at CESCO '
'centers',
'systems_affected': 'Driver’s license, permits, and vehicle '
'registration services'},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
'references': [{'date_accessed': '2023-10-04',
'source': 'Cyber Incident Description'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Public disclosure of incident and '
'ongoing updates',
'containment_measures': 'Systems taken offline, affected systems '
'disconnected',
'incident_response_plan_activated': 'Yes',
'remediation_measures': 'Technical tests being conducted before '
'reopening operations'},
'title': 'Cyberattack Disrupts Puerto Rico’s Driver’s License and Vehicle '
'Registration Services',
'type': 'Cyberattack'}