From CBS News · Nicole Sganga · · 1m 40s
Coast Guard and FBI board energy tankers after cyberattacks
Coast Guard and FBI board two tankers after cyberattacks on ships en route to US
In brief
Coast Guard and FBI board two tankers after cyberattacks on ships en route to US Cyberattacks on ships could disrupt critical systems and cause safety risks Originally reported by CBS News.
Coast Guard boards tankers
U.S. Coast Guard and FBI boarded two Texas-bound energy tankers after cyberattacks struck the vessels while traveling toward the United States.
“They started out by doing an assessment of the information technology and the other systems on board the vessel, and they did find malicious cyber activity”
Iranian claims
Iranian state media identified the VL Prosperity as being attacked, claiming hackers gained access to propulsion, navigation and cargo systems.
“Iranian state media reported hackers breached the engine room reducing engine cooling flow increasing engine speed and interfering with fuel systems”
Coast Guard investigation
Coast Guard Cyber Command commander Amy Grable said investigators found evidence of malicious cyber activity on the vessels.
“They started out by doing an assessment of the information technology and the other systems on board the vessel and they did find malicious cyber activity”
Investigation details
Coast Guard teams boarded the ship for four days to hunt for malware and check critical systems.
“We're concerned about those IT systems being connected to other systems on the ship that control propulsion navigation and other systems critical to the safety of that vessel”
Supertanker risks
Modern ships with internet-connected systems face risks of cyberattacks that could disrupt navigation, propulsion, and safety.
“When these vessels are highly connected they're susceptible to cyber threats”
Economic impact
U.S. ports handle $5.4 trillion in annual commerce, making cyber disruptions potentially costly.
“Any small delay because of a cyber breach like if a port shifts to manual operations causes big delays with tankers and cargo vessels”
Technical barriers
Attackers may not need advanced skills to manipulate ship systems, as malicious code is available online.
“Not necessarily that sophisticated there is malicious source code that people can get their hands on”
AI threat
Artificial intelligence could speed up attacks by identifying weak systems and exploiting vulnerabilities.
“The very thing that we think is our one protection is the very thing that AI is actually really good at”
Remote hijacking
Experts debate whether hackers could fully take over a ship or disrupt critical systems to make it unsafe.
“I'd be kind of cautious about saying that somebody can just take control of the ship ships are incredibly complicated systems”
Iranian narrative
Iranian state media claims the attacks were Iranian, but U.S. officials have not confirmed the source.
“No American vessel is safe anymore will cannons give way to codes”
Industry warning
Coast Guard urges vessel operators to improve cyber hygiene and network segmentation to prevent attacks.
“We need everybody to pay attention to this”
The essence
Cyberattacks on ships could disrupt critical systems and cause safety risks
