What’s changed
in terms of threats
to private vessels?
Pleasure boat owners of all
sizes are considered wealthy and
therefore a potential target for
anything from theft to possible
kidnapping and ransom. Compared
to robbing a house or a car, boats
present a relatively soft target –
they are often left unattended, their
security systems are usually quite
basic and response times are slow.What can you do about it?
Common sense and a little effort are
the main defence against crime. The
gas locker is neither an original nor
secure location to hide a cabin key.
Nav equipment is valuable, easy
to remove and easy to sell so ensure
it’s not left in the cockpit. Small
outboard engines are a popular target
for thieves so secure them with a lock.
Little will deter the really determined
thief; your job is simply to make
stealing from your boat more hassle
than it’s worth. There are also
sophisticated anti-theft devices like
the Dokensip Boat Monitor that alert
you if motion sensors are triggered
or the boat moves outside a geofence.Is piracy a genuine risk for leisure
boat owners?
Harry Chenevix-Trench, operations
manager at Blackstone Consultancy,
a private security and intelligence
specialist, says piracy is certainly
a threat in some areas of the world.
Most of those classed as ‘red-alert’
zones are outside the scope of smaller
motor boats, such as the Philippines,
the Gulf of Aden and west Africa.
However, some parts of the Caribbean
are categorised ‘amber’ (requiring
caution) and even the southern and
eastern regions of the Med have
become increasingly dangerous dueto conflicts in Libya and Syria and the
increasing use of waters around Sicily
and Gibraltar by people traffickers.How does one mitigate the risk?
Make use of local knowledge and
avoid areas deemed dangerous.
A check-in system where boats report
their position regularly is also worth
considering, as is GPS tracking. Be
aware of AIS, which transmits not just
your position, heading and speed but
also boat information like name, size
and type. There may be times when
it could be prudent to switch this off.How about in port?
In some areas, harbours and marinas
can represent the greatest single
concentration of international wealth
in the entire country. Guide books, theIs this just
scare mongering?
No it’s not. During a controlled
experiment in 2013, students from
the University of Texas were able to
spoof the GPS signals of a superyacht
and send it veering off course without
arousing any suspicions whatsoever. In
a different trial in 2017, a cyber crime
specialist working for a mobile device
company hacked into a yacht’s wifi
connection and gained control of vital
functions, including the navigation
system and on-board CCTV.What about personal data?
Many owners conduct private and
professional business while on board.
This makes their personal data such
as email addresses, photos or bank
account details vulnerable to malware
and phishing. A risk could come
from an unsuspecting guest or crew
member downloading a virus that
self-installs and spies on passwords,
or even hijacks the phones and
computers using the network.What is the best way to prevent
cyber attacks?
Proven security software with end-
to-end encryption and two-factor
authentication helps secure on-board
systems. Videoworks recommends
systems like its Kerio Control, an
all-in-one threat and connection
manager able to protect the yacht’s
server via an Intrusion Prevention
System (IPS) that monitors entering
and exiting net communications.What about crew?
Crew should be trained in digital
security protocols so that they don’t
inadvertently put the boat and guests
at risk by posting photos of it on social
media, opening emails from suspicious
parties or inserting USB or disc drives
into the boat’s systemsBoat security
The truth about
As boats and the threats to them get ever more
complex, MBY takes a look at some of the latest
security issues you might want to considerYour job is to make stealing from your
boat more hassle than it’s worthMBYINVESTIGATES
internet and indeed local knowledge
such as marina staff or port security
can offer good advice about where
and when it is safe to explore.What else should be considered?
On-board wifi networks that cover
the whole boat are a popular option
but can mean the signal reaches
further than the boat, raising the
risk of cyber attack. Maurizio Minossi
from Marine electronics specialists
Videoworks says, “On-board systems
are managed by VLAN, often via the
same internet entry/exit point (VSAT,
4G etc). As all traffic goes through the
same portal, a hacker gaining access
is a risk to the entire network, from
AV systems through to alarms, air
con, engine management, security
doors and navigation systems.”NEWS