The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security has issued a warning regarding hacktivists compromising online systems that oversee water, energy, and agricultural facilities. Information security officers were alerted about multiple incidents involving industrial control systems accessible via the internet, as reported by both the Cyber Centre and the RCMP in recent weeks.
One incident detailed in the alert mentioned tampering with water pressure in an unidentified facility, leading to disruptions in community service. Additionally, there was an occurrence where manipulation of an automated tank gauge resulted in false alarms at a Canadian oil and gas company.
Another case involved unauthorized adjustments to temperature and humidity levels within a grain-drying silo on a Canadian farm, potentially causing hazardous conditions. The Cyber Centre, a branch of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), highlighted that while specific organizations may not be primary targets, they could still fall prey to opportunistic hacktivists seeking attention, aiming to discredit entities, and tarnish Canada’s reputation.