As Technology Spreads, Greater Maritime Cyber Defenses Needed

The term "maritime cyber" refers, on the one hand, to the set of cyberthreats and challenges facing the shipping industry and ports, and, on the other hand, to the solutions in the field. As technology develops, and with it the increasing use of computerized systems in the managing of maritime processes, maritime cyberthreats become more complex and dangerous.

The Main Dangers

1. Attacks on navigation systems

Modern navigation systems such as GPS and automatic ship guidance systems are potential cyberattack targets. Attackers can disrupt or mislead these systems, which may cause errors in navigation, deviation from safe routes, and even lead the ship into danger zones.
 

2. Damage to cargo management systems

Cargo management systems track and coordinate cargo in ports and ships. Intrusion into these systems could disrupt cargo management, and cause delays, loss of cargo and heavy financial losses. Such attacks could damage the global supply chain and cause extensive economic damage.

3. Theft of sensitive information

Ports and ships store a great deal of sensitive information about shipments, customers, shipping routes and logistics processes. Attackers can steal this information and use it for criminal purposes, such as extortion and unfair competition, or sell it to third parties.

4. Disruption of operational processes

Computerized systems in ports are used to manage operational processes such as unloading and loading cargo, coordinating schedules and controlling the entry and exit of ships. Cyberattacks can disrupt these processes, cause delays, temporary shutdowns and even physical damage to infrastructure.

5. Ransomware attacks 

Ransomeware attacks have become increasingly common in the maritime arena as well. Attackers take over critical systems, lock them and demand a ransom to release them. Suck attacks may cause port activity to be shut down, delays in shipments and large financial

6. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks

Attacks of this type flood the computer systems in the port and within ships with malicious requests, leading to overload and system shutdown. DDoS attacks can disrupt daily operations, prevent access to critical services, and cause significant economic damage.

7. Intrusion into industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA)

Industrial control systems manage and supervise operational processes in ports and ships. Penetration into these systems allows attackers to control critical processes, disrupt activity and even cause physical damage to facilities and equipment.

8. Phishing

Impersonation and phishing are common tools used by attackers to gain access to sensitive systems. By impersonating a trusted party, attackers can convince employees to hand over sensitive information or install malware on computer systems.

Examples of Maritime Cyberattacks

In recent years, several significant cyberattacks have occurred in the maritime sector, demonstrating the destructive potential of these threats:

The ransom attack on the Danish shipping company Maersk (2017): Maersk was severely damaged by a NotPetya ransomware attack that disabled its computer systems for weeks and caused significant financial losses.

GPS attack on ships in the Black Sea (2017): Several ships in the Black Sea region reported malfunctions in their GPS systems, as a result of a cyberattack that caused them to display incorrect locations.

The Success of the Cyber ​​2.0 Company 

The Cyber ​​2.0 company has recently established itself as a leader in cyber protection in the maritime world. The company, which was established in 2015, has been able to implement advanced security solutions in several seaports around the world, thus effectively addressing marine risk problems through the advanced technology it has developed.

The company specializes in preventing the spread of cyberattacks in corporate networks and beyond. It has already proven the effectiveness of its solution through hacker challenges in which it invited hackers to try to penetrate a network protected by it. Hundreds of thousands of hacker attempts failed to break into the network protected by Cyber 2.0.

The beginning of its activity in the maritime field was carried out in cooperation with the Port of Ashdod. Cyber 2.0 mapped the dangers in the maritime cyber world and adapted solutions based on its dedicated cyber defense system.

The company successfully implemented advanced cybersecurity solutions in the port. These solutions included protecting the port's critical infrastructures, which were carried out on the port's IT computing infrastructures as well as the OT and SCADA operating infrastructures while preventing any unauthorized access to the controllers.

In cooperation with the Port of Ashdod, the system was introduced to several ports worldwide, such as the port of Thessaloniki.

The collaboration with the Port of Ashdod contributed to the development of a system that provides an answer to all maritime cyber fields globally. After successful implementation in several ports, such as the Port of Ashdod and the Port of Thessaloniki, our solution is beginning to be recognized internationally, and we are in the midst of several projects in ports around the world.