House to weigh port cybersecurity

The House Homeland Security Committee is planning to hold a hearing to access the vulnerability of U.S. ports to potential cyber-attacks on Thursday. 

Officials with the panel’s Border and Maritime Security subcommittee said the hearing will “provide an overview of the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts and authority for ensuring cyber security at sea ports.  

“This hearing will examine the current maritime related cyber threat landscape and the Department’s initiatives to counter that threat,” the panel said. 

{mosads}Ports have increasing the amount of automation that is used to move cargo from ships to trucks and rail, which has raised fears about potential cyber-attacks. 

The hearing comes as ports have been engulfed in a number of labor fights in recent years that have threatened the flow of cargo.