Pen Test Partners has published a stark assessment of maritime cyber-danger. Critical ship control systems, including IP-to-serial converters, GPS receivers or the Voyage Data Recorder, tend to be easily compromised. Some on-board devices for instance still run Windows XP and Windows NT, and converters rarely have their admin passwords changed. Hackers could easily access control systems via a standardized messaging system, called NMEA 0183 messaging. These include autopilot systems, propulsion control, dynamic positioning, engine control, ballast control and digital compasses everything that s needed to steer a ship off-course.
Source: https://threatpost.com/hacker-capsize-ship-sea/142077/