Border-surveillance subcontractor suspended after cyberattack

Border-surveillance subcontractor Perceptics was suspended by The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after a cyberattack against the firm revealed sensitive monitoring details.

The license-plate scanner and surveillance equipment firm was hit by an unknown assailant in an attack that revealed images of “fewer than 100,000” travelers faces, images of license plates, equipment schematics, HR records, business plans, financial figures, presentations and other personal information, according to the Washington Post.

The CBP announced the attack last month and said an unnamed subcontractor had transferred copies of license-plate and traveler images onto its private network in violation of agency rules.

Perceptics said in a statement late Tuesday that it has an “an unblemished record” and denied any illegal or unethical behavior adding that it is ready to meet with the government to demonstrate its support of the CBP mission.

The rare punishment prevents the contractor from doing business with the federal government and potentially result in the company landing on a government blacklist. SC Media attempted to contact Perceptics but they have yet to respond.