• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Law enforcement operations seized BlackSuit ransomware gang’s darknet sites

 | 

Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme

 | 

Operation CargoTalon targets Russia’s aerospace with EAGLET malware,

 | 

Unpatched flaw in EoL LG LNV5110R cameras lets hackers gain Admin access

 | 

Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape

 | 

Mitel patches critical MiVoice MX-ONE Auth bypass flaw

 | 

Coyote malware is first-ever malware abusing Windows UI Automation

 | 

SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks

 | 

DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033

 | 

Stealth backdoor found in WordPress mu-Plugins folder

 | 

U.S. CISA adds CrushFTP, Google Chromium, and SysAid flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

U.S. CISA urges FCEB agencies to fix two Microsoft SharePoint flaws immediately and added them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Sophos fixed two critical Sophos Firewall vulnerabilities

 | 

French Authorities confirm XSS.is admin arrested in Ukraine

 | 

Microsoft linked attacks on SharePoint flaws to China-nexus actors

 | 

Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

 | 

SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

 | 

CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

 | 

Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

 | 

MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Hacking
  • Security
  • Hacking Ships: Maritime Shipping Industry at Risk

Hacking Ships: Maritime Shipping Industry at Risk

Pierluigi Paganini March 31, 2015

Modern maritime ships are considered a privileged target for hackers and pirates that are increasing their pressure on the Maritime Shipping Industry.

Hackers target Cyber Attack on Ships: Maritime Shipping Industry at Risk 

Modern maritime ships are often monitored and controlled remotely from shore-based facilities thousands of miles away to ensure efficiency. This creates a new platform for hackers and pirates to conduct targeted cyber attacks on ships

Growing cyber risks for the Shipping Industry

Multiple studies and security incidents prove that the maritime industry is facing a major cyber security risk. For centuries, ships have been utilized as a mode of transport for goods around the world. The shipping industry is highly dependent on computer systems, processes, people and technology. This industry transports trillions of dollars of goods per year to every corner of the world. Information Technology has been playing a very important role in the maritime shipping industry. Today our modern ships are completely computerized. Everything is connected to networks. Today’s modern ships have complex cargo operations that are entirely connected through cyberspace. Cranes are moved by GPS.

“Cybersecurity is a safety issue. Every ship built has software that manages its engines; and that software is updated while the vessel is underway from the beach, and the Master doesn’t even know that the software is being updated.”  As said by Rear Admiral Paul Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard. Hackers could interfere with the control of a ship, disable navigation systems, cut off communications or steal confidential data, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s 2015 Safety and Shipping Review. “Crews becoming smaller, ships becoming larger, and a growing reliance on automation all significantly exacerbate the risks from hackers disrupting key systems” the report stated. 

Security vulnerabilities in software used by the maritime industry could be exploited to cause ships to malfunction or run aground, according to research from the global information assurance firm, NCC Group. They have revealed security vulnerabilities in ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems), an information technology product used by the shipping industry. These systems are usually installed on ships and used by navigation officers.

The increased use of computer systems for navigation, container inspection, rapid unloading, distribution of goods and handling goods at ports is easily exposed to cyber threats if no proper security controls are implemented.

Cyber threats in the shipping industry can be divided into five major types, Threats to

  • Ships and safe navigation
  • Satellite communication
  • Cargo tracking systems
  • Marine Radar systems
  • Automatic Identification systems

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems used by ships, ports, and other facilities are frequently controlled remotely from locations both inside and outside a country. They also possess the risk of an Advanced Persistent Threat, designed to gain access to a network, acquire data and secretly monitor the targeted computer systems over long periods of time.

Many cyber attacks have been carried out earlier on commercial ships, in one such incident, a commercial ship on contract to the US military was the target of an intrusion by suspected Chinese military hackers. Another incident saw a major fuel supplier fall victim to an $18m scam as the bunkers sector faces growing cybercrime threats. In 2012, the Chinese military compromised “multiple systems” on a commercial ship on contract to Transcom. Marine shipping providers were also the target of so-called spear-phishing campaigns. These attacks use spoofed e-mails targeting a single company to gain secure access to confidential data. Similarly, KPMG has worked with one major shipping company that has been a victim of a deliberate hacking attack, possibly by a rival. Hackers recently shut down a floating oil rig by tilting it, while another rig was so riddled with computer malware that it took 19 days to make it seaworthy again; Somali pirates help choose their targets by viewing navigational data online, prompting ships to either turn off their navigational devices, or fake the data so it looks like they’re somewhere else; and hackers infiltrated computers connected to the Belgian port of Antwerp, located specific containers, made off with their smuggled drugs and deleted the records. GPS expert Todd Humphreys, professors at the University of Texas, demonstrated that just using a cheap apparatus composed by  a small antenna, an electronic GPS “spoofer” built in $3,000 and a laptop he is able take total control of sophisticated navigation system aboard a 210-foot super-yacht in the Mediterranean Sea.

Maritime Shipping Industry 2

Reducing the Cyber Threats

Unfortunately, many cyber events in the maritime industry had remained undetected or businesses didn’t want to reveal them in public, security experts say. A spokeswoman for Maersk Line, the world’s top shipping container group, said:

“Yes, we consider cyber risk a threat, but vessels are no more vulnerable to such attacks than onshore systems and organizations. We are taking this risk seriously and ensuring that we are protected against such threats.”

Many of the shipping industry are not properly conducting regular security assessments on evaluating their vulnerability to a cyber attack. And studies report that none of the maritime industry had developed the proper security response plan to handle such attacks.

“Security and attack scenarios against these technologies and protocols have been ignored for quite some time in the maritime industry,” said Rapid7’s Schloesser.

Shipping industry must incorporate proper defense in depth strategies to handle cyber threats. Implementing proper defense in depth controls includes:

  • Restricting portable media and implementing antivirus software
  • Policy for Secure operations and maintenance of system
  • Secure design and deployment of applications and system.
  • Employee awareness
  • Securing the ports which are primarily using automated systems for cargo handling.

The industry should follow cyber security rules and standards at all levels of the organization to mitigate cyber events.

About the Author Ashiq JA (@AshiqJA)
Ashiq JA (Mohamed Ashik) is a Cyber Security Researcher and Writer passionate about Web Application Security, Security research using Machine Learning and Big Data, Deep web, Security technologies and Threat Analysis. He is currently working as a Security Consultant for a financial firm. He believes in knowledge sharing as the best source for information security awareness.  To catch up with the latest news on InfoSec trends, Follow Ashiq JA on Twitter @AshiqJA.
[adrotate banner=”9″] [adrotate banner=”12″]

Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – Maritime, hacking)

[adrotate banner=”5″]

[adrotate banner=”13″]


facebook linkedin twitter

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 26, 2025
Law enforcement operations seized BlackSuit ransomware gang’s darknet sites
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 26, 2025
Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Law enforcement operations seized BlackSuit ransomware gang’s darknet sites

    Cyber Crime / July 26, 2025

    Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme

    Intelligence / July 26, 2025

    Operation CargoTalon targets Russia’s aerospace with EAGLET malware,

    Intelligence / July 25, 2025

    Unpatched flaw in EoL LG LNV5110R cameras lets hackers gain Admin access

    Security / July 25, 2025

    Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape

    Malware / July 25, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT