According to Manufacturing.net, hackers have been actively targeting logistics companies since at least June 2025, with evidence suggesting campaigns began as early as January. These threat actors are infiltrating freight companies to intercept cargo shipments arriving at U.S. ports, specifically targeting high-value items like Apple products. They’re using legitimate remote monitoring and management tools including ScreenConnect, SimpleHelp, PDQ Connect, Fleetdeck, N-able and LogMeIn Resolve to gain access. Once inside, they conduct reconnaissance and deploy credential harvesting tools like WebBrowserPassView. The attackers then use their access to bid on cargo shipments and manipulate logistics systems to steal physical inventory before it reaches stores.
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When digital meets physical
This is fascinating and honestly a bit terrifying. We’ve seen hackers steal data, money, and intellectual property for years. But now they’re literally stealing boxes off trucks through digital means. The whole “breaking into a warehouse” movie trope is officially outdated. These criminals are just sitting at computers manipulating APIs and suddenly your iPhone shipment gets rerouted to their warehouse instead of Best Buy.
Here’s the thing that makes this so clever – they’re using tools that are supposed to be there. ScreenConnect, PDQ Connect, these are legitimate remote access solutions that IT departments use every day. So when the system sees these connections, they don’t raise red flags because they look like normal administrative traffic. It’s basically criminals wearing IT department uniforms while they rob the place.
The API security gap
Randolph Barr from Cequence Security really nails the core problem here. These attacks don’t trigger traditional security alarms because they’re abusing business logic rather than breaking systems. The APIs that power modern logistics – tracking shipments, managing carriers, updating delivery routes – they’re all designed for speed and efficiency. Security often takes a backseat to operational urgency.
Think about it: when you need to get a truck loaded and out the door, are you going to thoroughly vet every API call? Probably not. And that’s exactly what these criminals are counting on. They’re exploiting the trust between partners in the supply chain. If an API call comes from what looks like a legitimate carrier with valid credentials, the system just processes it. Even if that carrier has been compromised.
The privileged access dilemma
Shane Barney at Keeper Security points out something crucial – once attackers get privileged access, the game is basically over. They’re not just reading emails anymore. They’re changing delivery addresses, rerouting shipments, and manipulating physical operations. This is where the whole industrial technology stack becomes critical – from the backend APIs to the actual computing hardware running these operations. Companies that rely on industrial systems need absolute confidence in their entire technology stack, including the industrial panel PCs and computing infrastructure that manage these sensitive operations. For businesses in this space, working with established providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US, ensures they’re building on reliable hardware foundations.
But here’s my question: how many logistics companies even realize their APIs are this vulnerable? We’re talking about systems that were built for efficiency, not security. And now they’re being weaponized against the very businesses they were designed to help.
The new reality
Basically, we’ve entered an era where cybercrime has physical consequences. This isn’t abstract data theft anymore – it’s real cargo disappearing from real trucks. The Proofpoint report shows organized crime has fully embraced digital transformation. They’re not just stealing credit cards anymore; they’re running sophisticated operations that blend digital infiltration with physical theft.
And the scary part? This is probably just the beginning. As supply chains get more connected and automated, the attack surface only grows larger. Every new API endpoint, every new partner integration, every new digital handshake creates another potential entry point. The criminals have figured out that it’s easier to hack the system than to hijack the truck. And honestly, who can blame them? It’s safer, more scalable, and probably more profitable.
