US Tracks Cyber Threats Against Nearly 20 Ships; Coast Guard Boards Two
US agencies are tracking cyber threats to nearly 20 ships worldwide, with the Coast Guard boarding two vessels in the Gulf of Mexico after network compromises.
US government agencies are monitoring cyber threats against nearly 20 commercial ships worldwide, according to officials familiar with the matter. The Coast Guard has requested advance notice before any of the vessels enter a US port. The ships' specific destinations and cargo manifests were not immediately known.
Several commercial vessels were targeted in potential cyberattacks in late August, a federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency official said. Hackers did not appear to have taken control of the targeted ships. The Coast Guard is tracking the vessels alongside the FBI and Department of Homeland Security units, a Homeland Security official said.
The Coast Guard said in a statement that it boarded two inbound foreign-flagged commercial vessels in the Gulf of Mexico to ensure the integrity of their operational and information technology systems after indications that both networks were compromised. The first vessel was boarded on Aug. 21 and the second on Aug. 24.
"Currently, there are no reports of operational disruptions, vessel instability, physical danger to crews, or environmental impacts," the Coast Guard said, adding that it is actively communicating with port operators, vessel owners and other stakeholders.
Warnings about cyberattacks targeting the maritime sector have increased in recent years as ships rely more on digital systems for navigation, communications and other operations. Governments and security researchers have repeatedly cautioned that hackers seek to exploit these systems to disrupt supply chains. The cyber risks add to pressures on a global shipping industry already strained by wars and geopolitical rivalries.