Transportation A Top 10 Target of Cyberattackers
A data breach study by SOAX using data from the Identity Theft Resource Center found a concerning rise in data breaches across US industries in 2023. The total number of breaches reached 3,205, a 78% increase from 2022.
The transportation industry experienced a particularly significant jump, with data breaches rising over 180% year-over-year. This surpasses all other industries studied, with only financial services coming close (177% increase). The number of breach victims within transportation also reached 12 million in 2023.
The study emphasizes the need for heightened cybersecurity measures across all sectors, particularly in transportation due to its impact on daily lives. SOAX CEO Stepan Solovev highlights the urgency, stating that cybercriminals pose an increasing threat.
Image source: Trellis
Top 6 Targeted Sectors:
1: Transportation & Shipping
2: Finance
3: Telecom
4: Media & Communications
5: Healthcare
6: Technology
7: Other
While the transportation industry ranked lower in total breaches (101), the utilities sector, despite having only 44 breaches, saw the most victims (73 million) in 2023. This vulnerability raises concerns for the upcoming transition to electric trucks within the transportation industry.
This trend aligns with data from cybersecurity company Trellix, which showed the transportation and shipping sectors generating a significant portion (53% and 45% respectively) of global ransomware detections.