We’ve all seen the newsheadlines: another major company falls victim to a massive ransomware attack. By now, most of us are well aware of the very real cyber threats facing our world and the importance of cybersecurity and data protection. From oil shortages, to hospital system failures, hackers are now endangering our society in another way: by threatening our food supply.

Why cybersecurity matters in the food industry

Due to the widespread use of the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity has become a vital consideration in all sectors, including the food supply chain. As a result of cyber warfare, delays and issues with the transport of materials or crops could surface. Data breaches could also result in entire systems failing or interference with farm and manufacturing processes. Furthermore, As agri-technology is involved in irrigation and fertilizing, hackers could cause serious damage to crop security.

What are the main cybersecurity risks facing our food supply?

The food supply chain faces several main risks when it comes to cybersecurity. The first is web skimming; this is when hackers implant malicious code on websites to steal private data and commit fraud. The next is ransomware, which could cause system breaches which disrupt the supply chain or compromise private data.

The third major threat is ICS/SCADA malware, which is when malware enters industrial control systems (ICS) or supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), which are involved in manufacturing. Here, malware has the power to bring food supply operations to a halt or even contaminate the food supply by changing ingredient recipes. Hackers could starve or poison millions of people. If you thought cybersecurity was just a consideration of big tech firms, think again.

What drives cyber-criminal gangs?

In basic terms, cyber-criminal gangs are driven by opportunity and money. The pandemic has only made these two more desirable aspects, with the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) reporting that within the last 12 months, cargo theft has increased by 114%. As ISF’s Dan Norman reminds us, “during times of conflict, the party that can destroy the food supply chain will inevitably win.”

Talk to us: Do you think we have what it takes to tackle these cyber criminals head on and protect our food supply? Let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!

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