"Cyberattacks on the High Seas? Norwegian Sailors, Researchers Sound a Warning"

Researchers with a seafaring background at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) warn that cyberattacks on ships could have severe real-world consequences. Erlend Erstad, a Ph.D. candidate at NTNU, did not know of any reported safety accidents at this time. However, he cautioned that "unexplainable" incidents have occurred that have not yet been traced to a cyberattack or technical flaw. Erstad noted that there are unreported incidents in the industry because ship owners and charterers have not had proper reporting mechanisms until recently. According to Erstad, sailors have handled cyber issues similarly to other technical issues. At the turn of the century, cyberattacks on industrial systems, including nuclear enrichment facilities in Iran and several sections of the Ukrainian power grid, have demonstrated that digital interference can have a direct physical impact. Currently, there have been no publicly recognized hacks that have had a comparable impact on a ship, but cyberattacks on other shipping-related systems are well-known in the industry and marine academia. The researchers warn that this lack of public awareness does not mean that the risks do not exist. They want to raise awareness of these risks among seafarers and equip them with how to respond to such an attack. As Erstad explained, doing so raises the bar for attackers enough that these publicly available vulnerabilities do not harm shipping. This article continues to discuss cyberattacks on ships and what must be done to prevent such attacks.

The Record reports "Cyberattacks on the High Seas? Norwegian Sailors, Researchers Sound a Warning"