London (The Guardian) -
Cyber-attacks on one of the world’s busiest ports have nearly doubled since the start of the COVID pandemic.
The number of monthly attacks targeting the Port of Los Angeles is now around 40 million, the port’s executive director Gene Seroka said.
Los Angeles is the busiest port in the western hemisphere, handling more than $250bn of cargo every year.
The threats are believed to come mainly from Europe and Russia, and aim to disrupt the U.S. economy, Seroka said.
“Our intelligence shows the threats are coming from East Europe and parts of Europe. We have to stay steps ahead of those who want to hurt international commerce,” he said.
Seaports move billions of dollars in goods every year, making them a unique target for cyber-criminals.
They face daily ransomware, malware, spear phishing and credential harvesting attacks, with the aim of causing as much disruption as possible and slowing down economies.
The Port of Los Angeles is now working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s cyber-crime team to prevent attacks and improve cyber-security.
The port has invested millions of dollars in cyber-protection, developing one of the world’s first Cyber Resilience Centres, which is part of the FBI.
“We must take every precaution against potential cyber-incidents, particularly those that could threaten or disrupt the flow of cargo,” said Seroka.
The Cyber Resilience Centre provides enhanced intelligence gathering and heightened protection against cyber-threats within the maritime supply chain.
It is a hub for the port to receive, analyze and share information with those who operate on the dock, such as cargo handlers and shipping lines.
During the pandemic global supply chains slowed down as lockdowns closed factories and workers were forced to stay at home.
The strain on supply chains has since eased, Seroka said. In January 2022 there were 109 container ships queuing for more than two days to get into the Port of Los Angeles. Today there are around 20 waiting to dock.