Sat Sep 21 10:11:10 UTC 2024: ## Fears of Foreign Espionage as Divers Seek Security for Sunken Superyacht
Divers surveying the wreckage of the $40 million superyacht, the Bayesian, that sank off Sicily in August, killing seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, have requested heightened security. The concern stems from the potential for sensitive data locked in the vessel’s safes to fall into the wrong hands.
Italian prosecutors investigating the tragedy, which is being probed for potential manslaughter and negligent shipwreck charges, believe the yacht may contain classified information linked to Western intelligence services. Lynch, who was associated with British, American, and other intelligence agencies through his various companies, was known to keep sensitive data on secure drives. The sunken vessel, lying at a depth of 50 meters, is believed to contain two super-encrypted hard drives with classified information.
Divers initially feared that the wreckage might attract thieves seeking valuables. Now, they are concerned that foreign governments, particularly Russia and China, may attempt to access the vessel’s data. Authorities have implemented increased security measures to protect the wreckage until it is raised in the coming weeks.
The tragedy claimed the lives of Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, and several other passengers and crew members. While the precise cause of death remains under investigation, preliminary reports indicate some victims died from suffocation or “dry drowning” after the ship sank.
Survivors, including the yacht’s captain and crew members, who are under investigation for manslaughter, reported that Lynch kept sensitive data on board, believing it to be more secure than cloud services.
Divers are now preparing to salvage the vessel, a complex operation that will need to ensure the safety of the remaining fuel and prevent sensitive data from being compromised. The cost of the salvage operation will be borne by the owner of the yacht, Lynch’s widow.
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