Uncle Henry’s in Maine Restores Website After Ransomware Attack
Uncle Henry’s, the well-known swap and sell guide based in Augusta, Maine, restored its website on April 10, 2025, after a ransomware attack on March 11 deleted its database and disrupted services for nearly a month. President Kevin Webb said the attackers demanded about $700 in Bitcoin, but the company, guided by the FBI and cybersecurity experts, refused to pay. No sensitive customer data was compromised, and most active ads were recovered. The hackers had only copied a small number of listings before deleting the data.
The attack on Uncle Henry’s comes amid a rise in cyber incidents across Maine. In February, Franklin County government offices in Farmington faced a ransomware attack but restored services within 24 hours thanks to strong backup systems. In January, two public school districts, including South Portland, reported breaches traced to foreign IP addresses. Uncle Henry’s rapid recovery, along with ongoing customer support, highlights the resilience Maine organizations are showing despite mounting cyber threats.