Washington State Cannabis Tracking System Hacked

Washington State Cannabis Tracking System Hacked

Washington state’s new cannabis-tracking system was hacked the weekend of Feb. 3, according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). Among other information, the hacker stole route information associated with four days of marijuana deliveries.

Washington state’s new cannabis-tracking system was hacked the weekend of Feb. 3, according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). Among other information, the hacker stole route information associated with four days of marijuana deliveries.

Washington state requires the tracking of marijuana products from when it’s planted to when it’s sold to a pot user, allowing regulators to watch for suspicious movement of plants or products. The state’s traceability system, Leaf Data, was breached on Feb. 3.

“A computer vulnerability was exploited on Saturday, allowing unauthorized access to the traceability system,” according to WSLCB Deputy Director Peter Antolin. “There are indications an intruder downloaded a copy of the traceability database and took action that caused issues with inventory transfers for some users. We believe this was the root cause of the transfer/manifest issue experienced between Saturday and Monday.”

According to Antolin, the information downloaded did not contain personally identifiable information and, except for the manifest data, most data captured by the intruder was already public.

Manifest data includes detailed information on where cannabis products in the legal market are, where they’re from, and where they’re going, as well as transporter vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers. That data could potentially be used to intercept shipments or even rob drivers of cash and cannabis products.

Leaf Data developers MJ Freeway discovered problems associated with the hack on Feb. 3 and notified WSLCB on Monday. On Thursday, all marijuana licensees were notified and the WSLCB contacted the Washington State Office of CyberSecurity, which is investigating the hack.

According to WSLCB, it and MJ Freeway “continue to implement several strategies to prevent future vulnerabilities,” but because the investigation is ongoing, “details on security are not publicly available.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3