UK transportation is one of the more exposed sectors when it comes to cyber-crime, according to insurance specialist Gallagher, which warns that not only does the sector face regular cyber risks, but also specific threats to fleet management system information and other safety-critical systems.
Emerging risks include data protection and CCTV systems, as well as the potential introduction of autonomous vehicles.
Says a Gallagher spokesperson: “With an estimated 250m web-connected vehicles on roads globally by 2020, it’s easy to see how something like a major ransomware attack could have catastrophic results.”
Gallagher quotes an example of a cyber-crime attack involving 12,000 files locked by ransomware at a Blackburn-based fleet hire firm, after an employee clicked on an email link. It released a virus that encrypted files held on the network. The ransomware attack came with a blackmail demand for £3,000 in exchange for decryption. Ultimately, the firm had to pay to get its data back.
Adds Gallagher: “Without appropriate cyber-crime insurance protection, smaller organisations can find themselves seriously exposed.”
