HOW CYBERCRIMINALS GET IN attached. It was actually an encrypted malware virus. It enabled access to all of the company’s files where it changed all of the server logins, and shut out the owners. It was an expensive crime to correct and not all of the files were retrieved.
Be aware of the ongoing development of the Internet of Things (IoT), referring to the interconnectedness of different types of technology and automated machinery. This is increasing as is the infiltration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business operations. As highly connected autonomous equipment and vehicles start to populate work sites, companies should stay informed about their vulnerabilities, as they can be used to access personal and business data. Dr. Asaf Tzachor, a researcher at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk in the U.K., has been quoted as stating that cyberattacks in agriculture have involved autonomous drones, robotic harvesters and sprayers, suggesting that controls can be overridden by bad actors and datasets can be spoiled or stolen. Data theft, vehicle takeover and sensor spoofing (fooling a piece of technology into misidentifying an object into ‘seeing’ or not seeing an object) are anticipated to be the leading types of cyberattack in the future. Many parts of vehicles and equipment could provide vulnerable entryways to cyberattacks — especially those that connect to smartphones — including Bluetooth, airbags, USB, passive keys/passive keyless entry, engine transmissions, light systems and tire pressure monitoring systems. Equipment vulnerabilities In 2021, theft of construction equipment in Canada was estimated at $1 billion. At large work sites, it can be difficult to keep track of contractors, tools and equipment. Using layered safeguards, such as multi-authentication passwords and logins, these ‘smart’ steps can thwart or expose attempts at cybertheft. Engine immobilizers, smart keys or key transponder systems, cab control access code
MARCH 2025 | 27
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