Maritime transport is the primary mode of international trade across the globe. To add to that reliance, the modern digital infrastructure has improved navigation standards, port management systems, and supply chain management. Although they have improved the efficiency of operations, the introduction of these technologies has also brought new vulnerabilities. One such vulnerability is the rising threat of cyberattacks disrupting maritime infrastructure and transportation. The infamous NotPetya[1] cyberattack on Maersk in 2017, which disrupted operations at 76 ports worldwide, is a case in point. The financial losses in that attack were estimated at a staggering amount of US$300 million[2]. In light of such threats, there are implications for countries like Pakistan because of the significance of Gwadar and Karachi ports in economic and strategic spheres within the larger CPEC framework. The elements of geopolitics and economics related to these ports add to the magnitude of threats and enhance the possibilities of disruption to these entities from potential cyber-attacks by adversaries.
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