Modern vessels depend on digital systems for almost everything, from navigation and communications to maintenance and reporting. That dependence brings huge benefits, but it also creates real vulnerability. Cybersecurity should now be part of everyday life onboard, not because crews are doing anything unusual, but because ordinary actions, such as checking emails, ordering a gift online, opening a file from an unknown source, can unintentionally leave the vessel exposed to online cyber attacks.

Recent years have shown how quickly small lapses can escalate. In one high-profile incident, a global operator suffered a full network shutdown after a single infected computer was introduced into its system. In another, ships operating in the Black Sea suddenly saw their GPS positions displaced far inland due to signal interference. There have also been repeated cases of personal USB drives carrying malware into onboard networks, and convincing emails posing as management prompting crew to download unsafe attachments.

 What these examples exemplify is how closely personal and operational digital activity is now linked. During the Christmas period, when online activity is often at its peak, the risk increases, with more fraudulent messages, spoof websites, and phishing attempts circulating across the internet.

The good news is that protection doesn’t need to be complicated. A few simple habits go a long way, For example:

1: Take a moment to think before opening unexpected files

2: Steer clear of unfamiliar storage devices

3: Double-check who an email is really from

4:  Keep your devices updated with the latest software

None of this requires technical expertise in your part, it’s just wise to be aware of when something doesn’t seem quite right then its better to be cautious than to react.

With those digital risks in mind, our final article takes a step in a different direction, revisiting a navigation method that needs no electricity and no internet signal at all!