The International Union of Railways is launching cybersecurity courses specifically for the transport industry. Developed by industry specialists, the CYRUS training program aims to address the growing need for cybersecurity awareness in the industry, particularly among non-technical staff.
Ransomware attacks on the operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) that run industrial facilities almost doubled in 2024. According to Washington DC-based industrial cybersecurity company Dragos, ransomware attacks on industrial organizations in 2024 increased by a staggering 87 percent over the previous year.
The main industries targeted were: electricity and water; industrial manufacturing; telecommunications; oil and gas; food and beverage; chemical manufacturing; mining, transportation, and logistics. Manufacturing, which accounted for 69 percent of all ransomware attacks targeting 1,171 manufacturing entities, was by far the worst hit.
A cyber-attack on the London transport system earlier this month was far more serious than initially reported and is rapidly spreading across the UK. It is also now ringing loud alarm bells on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly in light of the upcoming US elections in November.
Transport for London (TfL) has now admitted that over 5,000 customers’ personal details and, in many cases, their financial details have been stolen. TfL added that the breach is also rapidly starting to affect services outside London.
The London Underground, the UK capital’s vast underground rail network, like most European metros, has a touchpad automatic electronic payment system using prepaid plastic cards. London also allows travelers simply to use their visa or MasterCard on the touchpads at the London underground barriers. This means that organizations such as TfL have become repositories of millions of commuters’ financial details, making them a tempting target for small-time cyber crooks.
A Forescout Research – Vedere Labs report disclosed that over 420 million attacks were recorded between January and December 2023 in the medical, power, communications, waste, manufacturing, and transportation equipment sectors, amounting to 13 attacks per second.
Forescout’s report “2023 Global Threat Roundup” states that despite the ongoing surge in cyber attacks, the cybersecurity landscape remains optimistic considering proceedingly enhanced visibility and proactive defense strategies in the affected sectors.
Editorial Team
