- U.S. physical infrastructure is increasingly the target of hacks, with Google’s cybersecurity firm Mandiant releasing a report Wednesday teasing out links between Russian hackers and a January attack on a water filtration plant in a small Texas town.
- The nation’s largest ports are also at risk, and Biden administration cybersecurity officers and key port executives held a call on Wednesday to discuss security issues, including the Chinese-made cranes that have received government scrutiny this year.
- “More needs to be done across the ports, and supply chain,” said Gene Seroka, executive director for the Port of Los Angeles, who noted that in 2023 the port stopped 750 million hacking attempts.
Cranes rest idle while waiting for a ship to dock to remove cargo containers in Los Angeles Harbor on March 14, 2024.
Genaro Molina | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
A top Biden cybersecurity official urged the nation’s ports in a joint call on Wednesday to have their data encrypted, rapidly patch any vulnerabilities in critical systems, and have a well-trained cyber team as hacks targeting key U.S. infrastructure increase.
Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, cited President Biden’s signing in February of an executive order to strengthen the cybersecurity of U.S. ports. The nation’s port system is the main point of entry for trade, employs 31 million people, and generates over $5.4 trillion for the U.S. economy.
“More needs to be done across…
