Modern pirates just need an internet connection
Recently, a massive gas tanker called the Vivit Africa LNG stalled out in the Mediterranean Sea. The crew was suddenly locked out of their own control systems in a suspected cyberattack. The ship had to abandon its delivery and turn around, and US authorities are now watching 20 other ships for similar hacks.
Today’s cargo ships are basically floating computers. Instead of just stealing data, hackers can now target a ship's actual hardware, like the steering, engines, and navigation.
This is a major threat for busy shipping highways like the Caribbean. Tankers constantly travel to and from the Caribbean Sea, moving fuel between the US, South America, and the Panama Canal.
Authorities rely on GPS trackers to monitor these ships and keep the waters safe. But if hackers take control, they can fake a ship's location to hide illegal activity, or even crash a massive tanker into a tight channel to block global trade.
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