The FBI warns that cyber criminals are increasingly targeting U. S. farms with ransomware. Harvest Public Media Reports that the threat is especially high during the time-sensitive harvest season. Agriculture increasingly relies on things that are hackable – data, artificial intelligence and the GPS systems that help farmers grow crops. FBI Special Agent Eugene Kowel says holding that technology hostage can yield a big payday – especially during harvest, when farmers are in a time crunch and might pay a ransom to get back to work. Kowel couldn’t talk about current threats, but says last year, cyber-attacks hit six grain companies, including in the Iowa-Nebraska Region. He says those attacks jeopardized the nation’s food supply and they believe the cooperatives were targeted. He says the FBI did determine that the attacks were purposely launched to coincide with the planting and harvest season. Kowel says the FBIwas able to stop the hackers before they harmed the grain companies.
He adds that whether or not you live in an agricultural state or live far from an agricultural state, the ramifications of cyber intrusions in the agricultural sphere affect everybody. The FBI says the threats will only grow as technology advances and things like autonomous tractors get into fields.
