In a recent cybersecurity incident, Austal, a prominent U.S. Navy shipbuilder and defense contractor based in Australia, reported a ransomware attack to federal authorities, emphasizing that the breach had no adverse impact on its operations.
Larry Ryder, Vice President of Business Development at Austal, stated that the company promptly alerted the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) upon detecting the cyber incident. He reassured stakeholders that swift mitigation efforts were implemented, preventing any disruptions to the company’s crucial operations.
Ryder added, “No personal or classified information was accessed or taken by the threat actor.” Austal USA is actively collaborating with federal agencies to investigate the root cause of the incident and determine the extent of information accessed. The company is committed to understanding the incident comprehensively to prevent any future occurrences.
Austal, known for specializing in defense and commercial vessels, has a significant role as a contractor for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The company, which reported over $1.5 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2023 and employs more than 5,000 people, maintains a critical position in naval shipbuilding for various nations.
The cyber threat landscape in the defense industry has been a cause for concern, with Austal becoming the latest victim added to the list of ransomware attacks orchestrated by the Hunters International gang. Despite this incident, the U.S. Navy has yet to provide comments on the situation.
