Closure of Major Australian Shipping Terminals Due to Cyber Attack

Australia's second-largest port company, which handles 40% of the country's maritime cargo volume, has been hit by a cyberattack, causing prolonged operational disruptions at major Australian port terminals.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article [Image source=Pixabay]

According to local major media on the 12th (local time), the Australian branch of DP World, a port operator based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), suffered an unknown cybersecurity attack on the 10th. Upon detecting the breach, DP World immediately disconnected its internet connection to block unauthorized access to its network, but the company's systems were also halted, leading to the temporary closure of the port terminals it operates.

DP World's Australian branch operates container terminals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Fremantle, handling 40% of Australia's maritime cargo.

The company stated, "We are investigating the possibility that key data, including personal information, may have been leaked due to this incident," and added, "We are working closely with the government and others to identify and locate sensitive cargo first." Furthermore, "in collaboration with security experts, we have made significant progress in rebuilding land cargo operations at the ports," and "we are working around the clock to test essential systems to resume normal operations." However, the company did not disclose when the temporarily closed container terminals will return to normal operation.

Clare O'Neil, Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, said that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has begun investigating the incident and explained, "The government is coordinating the response to the cyber incident." However, the Australian Ports Authority stated that the terminal closures only apply to terminals operated by DP World and that "other terminals are operating normally."

Australia has recently been plagued by various cybercrimes, including last year's massive personal data breaches caused by hacker groups targeting Optus, the country's second-largest telecommunications company, and Medibank, the largest health insurance company.