Cybercriminals are evolving their tactics in the maritime sector, as highlighted in Marlink’s latest Security Operations Centre (SOC) report for the latter half of 2024. The report indicates that Marlink monitored nearly 2,000 merchant and leisure vessels, recording a staggering 9 billion security events and over 39 billion firewall events. Additionally, there were 718,000 alerts and 10,700 malware incidents detected, along with 50 significant managed incidents.
A notable trend is the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) by hackers. Off-the-shelf large language models (LLMs) are now essential tools for accelerating malware creation, automating phishing, and enhancing social engineering tactics. This has resulted in a rise in AI-assisted cyberattacks targeting specific cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Marlink’s findings also reveal a more organized cybercriminal ecosystem, with access brokers thriving as the sale of network access has doubled in the past year. This complexity underscores the urgent need for stronger security measures and improved cyber hygiene within the maritime industry. Looking ahead, Marlink’s President, Nicolas Furge, warns that the cybersecurity landscape will become increasingly challenging, pressing users to enhance protections for their assets and personnel.
