Can your farm be hacked?

Last weekend the news was full of it. The WannaCry ransomware exposed various companies and agencies in 150 countries. That makes me think. Can a farm also be hacked? Is that chance real or will it not go so fast? It can't hurt to stop and think about this.

It can't have escaped your notice that there was a worldwide panic when the WannaCry ransomware shut down networks of hospitals, ministries, car manufacturers and parking garages. The files were released for a fee of $300. The worm spread rapidly through vulnerabilities in Windows. The ransomware specifically targets the old Windows XP and Server 2003, outdated networks that companies still often use. The campaign is therefore specifically aimed at the business world.

Agriculture in danger?
That makes me think. How much damage can a hacker inflict on the agricultural sector? There are various motives for this. Money, of course, as in the case of WannaCry. Can terrorism be a motive? Perhaps. You can disrupt the food supply or, for example, hack the futures market exchanges. Another argument could be espionage. One of the most "simple" actions is taking GPS satellites out of the sky, or blocking their signal. It gets worse when hackers take control and literally take the wheel into their own hands. It has even turned out to be possible to hack into nuclear power stations and operate the computer system.

Security underexposed
Things are probably not going so well in the agricultural sector. The impact you get is probably too small for what the hackers aspire to. Due to the use of existing software systems such as Windows and Linux in agriculture, they are susceptible to infections. A GPS manufacturer or machine builder probably doesn't care about the security of their system as much as its convenience or operation. 2015 hacked Purdue University in Indiana, without too many problems, the system of triggers.

Internet connectivity vulnerable
Another important development is the Internet of Things. For dairy farming there has recently been a central data hub created for, which bundles all information. In the house, the vacuum cleaner, the central heating system and the toaster are connected to the internet, after which you can control them with an app. This may seem harmless and useless, but it is also a possible source of infection. Through this digital route, hackers can effortlessly break into apparently silly equipment. Manufacturers are only busy connecting everything to the internet and forget to close the security.

More attention to safety
This story is not meant to scare. As mentioned, there is little chance that hackers have actually targeted agriculture. However, that should not be an excuse for not having security in order. There are plenty of parties active worldwide that are actually useful in infecting systems, even if only without major consequences.

Safety should not be underestimated in technological development. You shouldn't think that a GPS-controlled beet harvester or combine will lead its own life, without you being able to exert any influence on it. That is also one of the goals of hacking organizations: To draw attention to a failing security policy. Perhaps agriculture should be put to the test?

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

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