Cyberattack Disrupts Operations at North Carolina Ports

The North Carolina Ports Authority confirmed a cyberattack that affected operations at the Port of Wilmington, Port of Morehead City, and Charlotte Inland Port. Detected on August 4, the attack caused a systems-wide outage, delaying gate operations and truck processing. The authority activated its cybersecurity contingency plan and began recovery efforts on August 5. As of August 7, operations are gradually returning to normal, but delays are still expected. The nature of the attack and whether sensitive data was compromised remain undisclosed. The U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring the situation, coordinating with state and federal partners. This incident follows recent warnings from the FBI and EPA about cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure, including water systems.

Key Points: • Cyberattack detected on August 4, affecting three major North Carolina ports. • The North Carolina Ports Authority activated its cybersecurity contingency plan immediately. • Operations are gradually returning to normal, but delays are expected as recovery continues.