The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued an alert warning that hacktivist groups are actively breaching critical infrastructure. Recent attacks involved manipulating internet-exposed Industrial Control Systems (ICS) at water utilities, oil & gas sites, and agricultural facilities.
Business Impact
This represents a direct threat to public safety and national security. Hacktivists manipulating pressure valves at a water facility or temperature levels in a grain silo can cause significant physical damage, service disruptions, and economic loss.
Why It Happened
These attacks are succeeding by exploiting a fundamental security failure: leaving critical ICS devices exposed to the open internet. Attackers (including Iran- and Russia-linked groups) are simply scanning for and accessing these unprotected systems.
Recommended Executive Action
For any leader with OT/ICS responsibility: Mandate an immediate audit to ensure *no* industrial control systems are exposed to the internet. All remote access must be secured behind a VPN with strong multi-factor authentication. This is a foundational security control.
Hashtags: #OTSecurity #ICSSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #Hacktivism #CISA #CyberAttack #InfoSec