Cyberattacks on Oil Tankers Put Maritime Critical Infrastructure at Risk
Cyberattacks hit two Texas-bound oil tankers including VL Prosperity, disrupting communications ~30 hours and raising maritime OT risk concerns.
US Coast Guard and FBI boarded two tankers after cyberattacks struck them en route to Texas in August 2026; the VL Prosperity supertanker carrying 2.3 million barrels was reportedly hit near Gibraltar on August 7. Iranian state media claimed hackers accessed propulsion, navigation, and cargo systems, but attribution remains unverified. Coast Guard Cyber Command confirmed malicious cyber activity aboard the vessels, and officials warn connected ships could threaten ports handling $5.4 trillion in annual US commerce.
- Coast Guard Cyber Protection Team has executed 40-50 missions in the past year
- Iranian media pushed narratives around VL Prosperity before US acknowledgment
- Investigators found no evidence the ship was unsafe to navigate
- Experts recommend network segmentation and basic cyber hygiene for vessels
- Threat actors
- Iran
- Victims
- VL Prosperity
- Organizations
- U.S. Coast GuardFBITasnim News Agency
- Countries
- United StatesIran
From the original article
4 min read at securityaffairs.com
Cyberattacks on oil tankers show how connected ships can expose navigation and critical systems, threatening safety, ports and global trade. U. S.
By Pierluigi Paganini · securityaffairs.com
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