Coast Guard and FBI Boarded 2 Energy Tankers Due to Cyberattacks. How Big is the Risk?

TL;DR

The U.S. Coast Guard and FBI are investigating cyberattacks on two energy tankers, the VL Prosperity and another vessel, bound for Texas.
Iranian state media claimed hackers accessed the VL Prosperity's systems, knocking out communications for 30 hours, though the U.S. has not publicly attributed the attacks.
Rear Adm. Amy Grable confirmed evidence of malicious cyber activity and stated that investigators are examining the connection between the attacks and potential foreign adversaries.
Modern commercial vessels rely on internet-connected systems for navigation and propulsion, making them vulnerable to cyber threats that could lead to safety hazards, pollution, or blocked waterways.
Experts suggest that the technical barrier to attacking ship systems may not be as high as assumed, with readily available malicious code and the accelerating capabilities of AI posing growing concerns.
While a complete remote hijacking is debated, the disruption of critical subsystems that could render a vessel unsafe is considered a realistic threat.
The maritime industry is urged to prioritize cybersecurity, including network segmentation and basic cyber hygiene, to prevent such incidents.

Continue reading the original article