Cyber Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

Considering the recent natural disasters in view, it is quite difficult to say that we can fully recover from a cyber-attack that is aimed for our critical infrastructure. Many people say that this scenario cannot really happen. However, considering all the natural disasters that have put people on ventilators, we do know that living without critical infrastructure is not really possible anymore. In this scenario, the growing threats of cyber-attacks to the critical infrastructure are a matter of great concern and worry.

It is quite apparent that without all the critical infrastructure that we have, it would not be possible for people to lead a normal and a healthy life. All the conveniences that we have would be gone.

Experts are however concerned whether it is possible for someone to launch a nationwide attack on the major hub of gas, electricity, and water. If this happens, we can easily be set back 30 years or perhaps, half a century.

What about the threats?

Cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure is not a new concept. Rather it dates back to the 1980s. The Farewell Dossier is considered as the first cyber-attack that was carried out by CIA. This attacked targeted the Soviet Union. It is however unconfirmed whether such an attack did happen or not. Although, it has been talked of quite a lot. Considering the fact that it is quite easy to plan an attack on the public and the private sector, it is now quite feasible and effective to target the entire critical infrastructure. This goes right into the interests of the nation-state actors. Since the sectors that make use of critical infrastructure are known to be quite slow in terms of improvements and updates. Characteristics like these make the progression of such attacks quite apparent considering the last three years.

Hence, critical infrastructure security is of extreme importance today. Far more than it was a decade ago. This is because the threat of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure is extremely high today!

What is the role of IoT?

Nowadays, researchers are trying very hard to comprehend IoT devices. These devices could be extremely vulnerable to BrickerBot which is the denial of service botnet. Around 5000 devices have already been bricked at a university in the United States of America. The university has been unnamed, although this information is quite authentic.

The major concerns regarding the critical infrastructure protection are that cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure could potentially contaminate the water supplies, cause a city-wide power loss in major cities due to which everything including traffic lights and ATM machines will go down. At the same time, all businesses will come to a halt. Ultimately, this will also impact branches of the national security. For instance, the NHS attack is an example. It was nothing more than a campaign of malicious emails that began in the private sector but quickly went on to the public sector. Hence, it is important for both of these sectors to work on critical infrastructure protection from cyber-attacks.