A cybersecurity firm says it has strong evidence that hackers are infiltrating freight companies in a bid to intercept cargo shipments arriving at US ports and steal them before they even reach stores. Given the high value of Apple shipments, these seem likely to be among the key targets …
Bloomberg reports that the company has “high confidence” in its findings.
Hackers are infiltrating trucking and freight companies in a scheme to steal and sell cargo shipments, a growing campaign that could end up costing companies and consumers billions of dollars, according to new cybersecurity research.
Proofpoint said it has “high confidence” that the hackers are working with organized crime groups to pull off the cargo thefts.
The plan is to infect computer networks belonging to freight brokers and trucking companies in order to gain remote access so that they can redirect cargo shipments.
Proofpoint says it is seeing evidence of growing efforts at this type of attack.
Larson and threat researcher Ole Villadsen, co-author of the report, first noticed a criminal group carrying out cyberattacks on cargo companies in 2024, and they have since found evidence of at least three distinct groups using such methods. In the last two months, the researchers have observed nearly two dozen campaigns.
The time-sensitive nature of shipping means that companies are under constant pressure to get things done quickly. That can make the job of attackers easier, as the rush to secure a shipping slot may lead carriers to be insufficiently cautious about the links they are clicking.
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