VDR is the voyage data recorder also known as a black box. The system is comprised of an internal hard drive, which stores data gathered from sensors as well as bridge equipment. The unit is linked to an enclosure that is fixed or floating free and is designed to withstand fire, deep sea pressure and shock. The device is usually attached to a ship, and the capsule is mounted in a convenient location for fast retrieval in case of a marine casualty.

The current security standards for vdr systems contain requirements to ensure that the device can be easily accessed and retrieved by investigators following a maritime incident. However, these standards could also introduce vulnerabilities that could permit an attacker to manipulate the device and alter or destroy evidence. This article explains how these vulnerabilities can be mitigated, without compromising device functionality or restricting access to crucial accident report information.

One of the issues highlighted by the attacks in this article is that a lot of VDRs rely on standard interfaces such as USBs for software updates and data downloads. These interfaces expose the devices to a wide range of threats and can be exploited with widely available tools. By using proprietary, dedicated interfaces, you can limit the possibility of attacks. In addition, requiring use of a key or another secure means to access these ports would help limit their access and introduce additional look at here now levels of security.