Australian Ports Recovering After Large-Scale Attack

Uploaded on 2023-11-14 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-Transport & Travel

One of Australia’s biggest port operators has restarted some operations after a crippling cyber attack that led to a huge backup of cargo. The Australian government has offered no information on who was behind a cyber security incident that has shut down Australia's second-largest port operator and could affect freight in and out of the country for 3 days.

DP World Australia, which operates ports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle, and is responsible for 40 per cent of Australia's maritime freight, closed after it began responding to a cyber security incident on Friday 10th November.

They now say they have resumed operations across all its facilities after a cyber security incident forced it to suspend operations for three days. "The company, in collaboration with cybersecurity experts, has worked tirelessly, making significant progress in re-establishing landside freight operations at its ports," DP World Australia said in a statement.

DP Ports is collaborating "working closely with government and private sector stakeholders to identify and retrieve sensitive inbound freight" and held some concerns over the possible leaking of the companies' private data. "A key line of inquiry in this ongoing investigation is the nature of data access and data theft. DP World Australia appreciates this development may cause concern for some stakeholders. DP World Australia is working hard to assess whether any personal information has been impacted and has taken proactive steps to engage the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner."

DP Ports said its teams were "testing key systems crucial for the resumption of normal operations and regular freight movement" and it would provide a further update once testing was complete.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister described the incident as "serious and ongoing" and that that the Federal government was working with other agencies to protect Australia's interests and "working to ensure our ports and transport networks keep working while DP World resolves the incident... This incident is a reminder of the serious risk that cyber attacks pose to our country, and to vital infrastructure we all rely on."

Australia's National Cyber Security Coordinator, Air Marshal Darren Goldie said the situation could take days to resolve, leading to significant freight delays.

DPWorld: @AUCyberSecCoord: ABC: Reuters: Reuters: CNN: 9News: BBC: Guardian:

Image: Shaah Shahidh

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