Under attack! Mitigating malware and ransomware attacks in the transport sector

28 September 2023

A new report has been issued by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre following a major cyber attack on a haulage company earlier this year. The report has warned that ransomware attacks are on the rise and businesses are now being urged to take preventative action to protect themselves.
The UK is a high value target for cyber criminals and the report has addressed the ways in which business can be alert to the issue. In the last year alone, there were an estimated 745,000 computer misuse offences. Criminality of this sort assists with the facilitation of economic crime such as fraud and interpersonal crimes. It is easier than ever for those with malicious intent to cause huge disruption to businesses of all size. Companies must consider their use of good cyber practice and ensure they are up to date with the correct programmes and systems to minimise their vulnerability.

Consequences of these crimes will see a significant impact upon victims and disruption of services to the public and the compromise of sensitive personal data. Ransomware is fundamentally about monetisation of cyber vulnerabilities. Therefore, the most effective systemic response is preventing future attacks by investing in increased resilience and better protected systems. The transportation sector is a critical infrastructure and continues to play a vital role in the movement of people and goods. The sector is also responsible for the movement of goods across borders and therefore at enhanced risk of such attacks. The industry is more exposed as it depends more and more on digital technologies.

Cyber criminals are primarily concerned with financial benefit and while occasionally a group will specifically target sectors they have had previous success with, the majority do not. To prevent cyber attacks in the transportation industry, operators can seek to deploy security solutions, conduct regular updates on devices, use of firewalls and educate your staff. Any transportation company that employs technology to maintain its vital infrastructure should have an incident response plan.

The transportation sector is still vulnerable despite a growing knowledge of cybersecurity dangers. Make sure to invest in security solutions and train staff about online threats. Operators should also ensure they are adequately insured to protect against this type of risk. A cyber insurance policy will protect your business from the cost of internet-based threats.

For more information on how to protect yourselves or what to do in the event of an attack please contact the team on 01254 828 300 or disputeresolution@backhouses.co.uk