Almost 100,000 Industrial Control Systems at Risk of Cyberattacks
Almost 100,000 industrial control systems (Industrial Control Systems, ICS) around the world are potential targets for hackers. These systems, which play a crucial role in our daily lives, regulate the operations of various infrastructure objects, including electric networks, traffic lights, safety mechanisms, and water supply mechanisms.
In their recent report, cybersecurity company BitSight confirms that the “discovered vulnerabilities can create serious risks for organizations and society as a whole.” Violation of these processes not only poses a threat to national security but also endangers people’s lives.
While studying industrial complexes that utilize popular ICS like Modbus, KNX, Bacnet, and Niagara Fox, experts found that approximately 100,000 of these systems are accessible over the Internet, contrary to international security standards. This makes it easier for potential cybercriminals to determine the location and functionality of the equipment if needed.
Furthermore, the report highlights that many companies are still using outdated software, which poses challenges in terms of updating and ultimately increases the risks associated with ICS.
The United States currently leads in the number of unprotected ICS, followed by Canada, Italy, Great Britain, and France.
The most vulnerable sectors identified were education, technology, government institutions, business, and the production industry.
The report concludes with an appeal to manufacturers, emphasizing the need to prioritize equipment safety before its release and take customer feedback into account in order to protect already installed systems.