US Agencies Board Oil Tankers After Suspected Cyberattacks

US Coast Guard and FBI teams boarded oil tankers heading toward the US coast to investigate suspected cyber intrusions. TechCrunch reports that in one case, the compromise interfered with the vessel's navigation and propulsion systems. SecurityWeek confirms the Coast Guard found evidence of malicious cyber activity on the VL Prosperity, though it has not formally attributed the attack to Iran.

Graham Cluley's report notes the boarding occurred mid-voyage last month on a supertanker bound for Texas, after indications that the network "may have been" compromised. The sources agree on the core facts—unauthorised network access and a federal response—but differ on certainty: TechCrunch describes the tankers as hacked and details system interference, while Cluley frames the compromise as possible and SecurityWeek stresses the lack of attribution.

The investigation underscores the growing risk of cyberattacks on maritime infrastructure, where a successful intrusion could threaten vessel safety and global shipping. No group has been named as responsible, and the scope of the investigation remains limited to the two vessels.