The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued a warning about hacktivists infiltrating online systems controlling water, energy, and agricultural infrastructure. Information security officers were alerted to multiple incidents involving internet-accessible industrial control systems, as reported by the Cyber Centre and the RCMP in recent weeks.
One incident involved tampering with water pressure at an undisclosed facility, disrupting service to a community. In a separate case, manipulation of an automated tank gauge led to false alarms at a Canadian oil and gas company. Another incident saw unauthorized changes to temperature and humidity levels in a grain-drying silo on a Canadian farm, potentially creating hazardous conditions.
The Centre, a branch of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), emphasized that while individual organizations may not be primary targets, they could fall prey to hacktivists seeking publicity, aiming to tarnish reputations and undermine Canada’s standing.