Texas Urges Energy Defenses After Reported Tanker Hacks

Energy and extractive-sector leaders are being urged to strengthen cybersecurity as digital systems become more connected to industrial equipment and critical infrastructure. In Texas, Railroad Commission Commissioner Wayne Christian called on oil and gas producers, pipeline operators and other energy companies to invest in, test and monitor defenses after federal authorities boarded two U.S.-bound vessels in August amid indications their networks had been compromised; officials have not publicly attributed the incidents to a specific actor. Federal agencies have also warned of threats to internet-connected operational technology and industrial control systems, which could lead to operational disruptions and financial losses. Separately, executives at a cybersecurity event in Ghana discussed risks including cyberattacks, AI misuse, insider threats and supply-chain weaknesses, emphasizing that resilience requires coordination across organizations and attention to potential physical consequences.