Reasons why cyber crime targets the transportation industry

We live in the era of digitalization when technologies are accessible for everyone, and we benefit a lot from their presence in our lives. Almost all spheres have become much more advanced with the use of tech: processes are automated, queries are customized, and everything has become much easier. However, there is another side of the fortune: cybersecurity and the ways how your personal data can be stolen and used by other people. Data breach accidents happen more and more often, and cyber criminals find new ways of getting their job done. Almost all industries have already suffered from cybercrimes, and today one of them becomes vehicle transportation as well.

Why car shipping companies become targeted

When customers decide to ship car cross country, they expect their vehicle to arrive safely to the place of destination. Car shipping companies are responsible for this job, but sometimes cybercriminals break into centralized IT systems and take control over the cargo. How and why do they do that?
1. One of the relatively new tactics is called a fake driver. It works both for cargo, vehicle, and equipment shipment: they look for available loads on special websites registered at fake accounts. Then a thief gets a truck, goes on pick up location and gets the vehicle and contract showing the fake DOT number or other documents;
2. Another good way to steal a vehicle is to stop a truck. Telematics systems are easy for hackers: they take control over it remotely and are able to change the instrument panel of the truck, impact acceleration or disable breaks. In fact, trucks are even easier to hack than cars;
3. One of the most popular ways is data breach and stealing customers` personal information. It can be used to steal the vehicle itself or to sell this data to another company: there are many options not promising anything good to the vehicle owner and a responsible transportation company.
This industry attracts malware hackers like hell, and the reasons differ: digitalization of the processes and data, operations based on the Internet, outdated software, and extremely scattered workforce make perfect conditions for phishing and other stuff. According to statistics, small and mid-sized logistic companies have 58% more chances to become the key targets of cyber criminals, but in fact, businesses of any size are in danger.
Transportation companies have a geographically huge supply chain that contains lots of valuable information. Let's take one car shipment as an example: there is data about the transportation company, the driver, the customer, contacts on pickup and delivery location, information about the vehicle, banks, and customs. All these people work and interact in different time zones and are using unprotected devices with not licensed software that increases a risk of data theft. Back to statistics, 56% of large data thefts were caused by third parties working in the supply chain.
Besides, some transportation companies do not take care much about security, which makes it easier for hackers to break through. The level of security is quite low: easy-to-guess and simple passwords to accounts, use of the same combination between several platforms, not changing a password for a long period of time, etc. As companies depend on time schedules and their customer satisfaction, one small attack causing delays can bring you significant financial losses. Avoiding email scamming and taking care of the security systems, the logistics sphere can protect the business from cybercriminals.