Maritime Cyber Attack Database (MCAD)

Evaluating Vessel Cyberattacks: Are the Risks Exaggerated or a Genuine Threat?

Abstract:

In the last 10 years, publicly reported cyberattacks in the maritime sector have increased by more than 1000%, going from 4 in 2015 to 92 attacks in 2023, 80 in 2024, and 51 in 2025. Having said that, vessels themselves are less than 21% of those attacks. In addition, many of those cyber incidents relate to attacks on navigation and not actual compromises of the vessel systems themselves. Some researchers and industry insiders argue the threat to vessels is overblown, but is it? Using public incident data related to vessel and non-vessel cyberattacks, information on the capability and motivations of state and non-state cyber threat actors, the authors argue that cyberattacks on vessels remain a legitimate area of concern, and expectations that there should be large numbers of documented incidents to validate that position are unrealistic. The authors do, however, acknowledge the necessity to continually contest such assumptions given the limited data available.

Published In

Volume 25, Issue 3

Journal of Information Warfare

The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.

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APT

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The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.

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