Cyber criminals target supply chain, airports

Cyber criminals targeted the supply chain and manufacturing industries globally in 2023. While keeping an eye on geopolitical conflict and elections, carriers, forwarders and airports should also be aware of potential weaknesses in operations and how cyber criminals can infiltrate global networks, according to a 2024 cybercrime report by research company Everstream Analytics . [caption id="attachment_57136408" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo/Can Stock)[/caption] Cybercrime accounted for $8.4 trillion in revenue loss globally — a number projected to rise to $23.8 trillion by 2027, according to the World Economic Forum . In 2023, 23% of cyber disruptions were aimed at the manufacturing industry and 15% were aimed at the logistics industry, according to the report. Air cargo represents 35% of global trade, amounting to $6 trillion in 2023, according to IATA . Cyber criminals will attempt to infiltrate any major industry that has the potential to slow trade, putting the supply chain at high risk, according to the report. Cyberattacks commonly include: Phishing schemes, which are scam emails or text messages that direct users to malicious websites; Social engineering, which is psychological manipulation that tricks a user into giving away sensitive information or making security mistakes; and Ransomware, which uses malware to prohibit a user from accessing files or data on a device for a ransom. Targeting air cargo Airports remain one of the largest targets of cyberattacks , and the report stated that, in 2023, countries with the highest risk included: United States; Mexico; United Kingdom; Argentina; Indonesia; and India. “Critical infrastructures — industries, facilities and organizations considered essential to maintain the functioning of a society — are regular targets of cyber-related infiltration attempts,” the report stated. “Attempted attacks on communications, manufacturing, utilities and transportation assets have been on the rise for years.” Several British airports and one Mexican airport were targets of cyberattacks in 2023, including, according to the report: London City Airport (LCY); London Gatwick Airport (LGW); Birmingham Airport (BHX); Manchester Airport (MAN); and Queretaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO). Criminals also targeted airports in India, including Cochin, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Goa, with distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks, according to the report. A DDOS attack “occurs when legitimate users are unable to access information systems, devices or other network resources due to the actions of a malicious cyberthreat actor,” according to the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Mitigating risk There are ways to lower the risk of cyberattacks and fraud, Terri Luttrell , compliance and engagement director at Austin, Texas-based risk and compliance company Abrigo , told Air Cargo Next . But the digital transformation movement makes it more complicated, she said. “With the rise of digitalization in business processes, including invoicing and payment systems, there are more opportunities for fraudsters [and cyber criminals] to exploit vulnerabilities in electronic platforms ,” Luttrell said. “The ease of sending and receiving invoices digitally can also make it easier for fraudulent invoices to go undetected.” Education , taking precautionary steps to verify employee identities, and understanding how and when cybercrimes can occur can help reduce risk, she said. “Root cause analysis is an excellent tool for getting to the real cause of a fraud occurrence,” Luttrell said. “Review and strengthen internal controls and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future. This may include enhancing verification processes, implementing additional security measures, and improving employee training and awareness.”

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