The yearly total of cyberattacks on the trucking industry continues to increase. We previously posted about a wave of cyberattacks in September and October of this year, and now it seems that at least two more companies within the trucking industry have fallen victim to cybercriminals: Central Freight Lines and Forward Air.
Let's lay out what we know about these attacks and discuss what actions the trucking industry could take to fight back against cybercrime in 2021.
Cyberattack Hits Central Freight Lines
As of Dec. 21, Texas-based carrier, Central Freight Lines, has made clear that it was targeted in a cyberattack that occurred during the previous week. The cyberattack temporarily compromised Central Freight Lines' call center and operating systems, bringing them both offline.
At this time, the LTL carrier has not determined how their systems were hacked. No data appears to have been leaked. And no ransom has been demanded.
Forward Air Facing the Aftermath of Ransomware Attack
It has now been confirmed that Tennessee-based trucking and logistics company Forward Air was the target of a Dec. 17 ransomware attack targeting sensitive data. A group of ransomware hackers going by the name 'Hades' left Forward Air a message with instructions for contacting the cybercriminals and paying a ransom.
Forward Air has not made clear, at this time, how it responded to Hades' message—including whether they have attempted to pay the ransom for their data or not. The hackers' attack target and demands are similar to those of other ransomware groups.
Preventing Cyberattacks in 2021
With 2021 just days away, let's hope that the trucking industry can come together on the matter of cybersecurity in the new year.
To create a bulwark against these frequent cyberattacks, the trucking industry—and the transportation sector at large—should adopt a three-pronged approach: Invest in new cybersecurity technologies, share and continuously develop plans for handling potential data breaches (like this one), and utilize lean learning techniques to teach cybersecurity best practices.
Are you interested in an alternative to the standard trucking business model? If so, take a look at how Relaymile is reimagining trucking to provide drivers with a healthier, more consistent standard of work.
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