I work in a horticultural production facility, where we propagate and stage thousands of varieties of ornamentals. Just like most modern production operations, our equipment is driven by PLC Programmable Logic Controllers. There are sensors that pick up on dozens of different parameters. The sensors send information to an I/O module, and translates a voltage reading into any number of different values. The info is then sent back to an access point and user PC software.
Whether you are producing food, toys, plants, or most anything, PLC and its software are the new norm. What I have learned becoming certified in this software, is that it is vulnerable to outside attack just like anything else. There are layers upon layers of alarms, security options, even audible alarms throughout the facility BEFORE a damaging event occurs. For example, if i program a setpoint temperature, and the computer predicts that the fluctuations will be too extreme, it will send out an alarm and SMS/email notifications.
The consensus here seems to be foul play, and I agree.
I’m a an automation network engineer and you are correct and the biggest problem is most of those systems are setup by millwrights / electricians and not IT folks. So usually they are setup poorly and as simply as possible (Stratix switches configured with a single vlan, no Nat, no ACL’s and wide open routing default passwords
Someone made the comment "meth lab" the other day and it makes sense to me.
Maybe I've been watching too much Breaking Bad...idk.
Very interesting, and plausible take.