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Cybersecurity has been a hot topic of discussion in recent years, with a purported Chinese spy balloon hovering overhead, a major oil pipeline in Appalachia hacked with ransomware, and a mystery flying over New Jersey. Questions have arisen regarding drones.
But one area of focus that has been overlooked in this regard is agriculture, several prominent figures said – especially as America’s agricultural states are poised to lend their top political positions to Washington in the new year.
Dakota State University President Josemarie Griffiths told Fox News Digital that several Dakotans will seek leadership and leadership in the new year, including Sen. Mike Rounds (RS.D.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee. He has won ministerial roles and talked about how the center has become geopolitically important. About cyber security.
“I have said many things and will continue to do so.” [congressional] “It’s a testament to my concerns about critical infrastructure for agriculture and food production, and it came pretty late to the cybersecurity critical infrastructure agenda,” Griffiths said.
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“people [will] They are starting to realize that the agricultural vehicles they use are self-driving and connected to broadband. [via] satellites, and other ways in which they become vulnerable. And those who want to harm us are exploiting vulnerabilities in any way they can. ”
He said residents in the center are paying more attention to the threat that China and other rivals pose to the U.S. agricultural sector.
Mr Griffiths and Mr Lowndes separately said that advances in technology have allowed hackers to penetrate harvesters, grain bins and the nation’s freight train network.
Whether the cash crops are Pennsylvania potatoes, Florida oranges, or Dakotan wheat, they are all critical to the U.S. economy and supply chain, and all could be subject to cyber threats, Griffith suggested.
Lowndes told Fox News Digital that he has been studying the potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. agricultural sector with respect to foreign powers and cybersecurity for some time.
“It’s more than just a vehicle,” he said.
“A lot of it has to do with the infrastructure that we rely on. Good examples are water systems, electrical systems, etc. They are all connected now, and they are all cyber entry points. I have
“So for a long time, we’ve been looking at threats that could come from overseas, by adversaries trying to penetrate not only the water supply, but also the electrical system, and in some cases the sewerage system as well.”
Lowndes said he and other lawmakers are focusing on where malicious actors can proverbially “shoot arrows at us,” figuring out what they are and how to stop them. he said.
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He said the Chinese company Huawei sells cheap hardware to local carriers that could potentially infiltrate their communications systems.
“Once we found out it was there…that they could be putting in potential substances that could become active at a later date, we removed most of them. “But that’s just one example of a way in the countryside that could be a gateway into the rest of our communications system,” he said.
Mr Rounds said the use of drones in agriculture is increasing and drones are also at risk of being hacked.
Vehicles such as harvesters and tractors have made significant technological advances in the short term and face similar challenges.
“Right now, a lot of that is done with GPS. You get in the tractor, plug it in, and it basically drives itself. We leave people behind on those tractors, but At some stage in the game, some of them may well become autonomous as well and could be subject to cyber intervention…” he said.
Grain elevators could also be disrupted, which would disrupt marketing and transportation, jeopardizing larger supply chains and farmers’ ability to sell on the open market, Lowndes said.
Asked if he prefers today’s agricultural sector to the pre-automation era, Lowndes said it’s not about what he thinks, but what happens in the future.
“We’re going to see more and more use of self-driving cars in agriculture because we don’t have enough manpower, so we’re replacing them with machines. Machines are going to get bigger, they’re going to get more sophisticated. “We will be able to do more with fewer people actually operating it,” he said.
“Supply chains are very important. We often rely on autonomy, not just in delivering resources to farmers, but also in providing them with the products they want to sell.”
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Sen. Mike Rounds (RS.D., left) talks with Pete Hegseth. (AP)
If that new, technologically advanced system were to malfunction or be hacked, it would severely disrupt the ability to provide raw materials to the people and businesses that are “actually making the bread.”
Amit Yoran, CEO of exposure management company Tenable, recently testified before the House Homeland Security Committee and detailed cyber threats to America’s critical infrastructure.
“There is no one defense paradigm that can be effectively applied to all sectors,” Yolan recently told Fox News Digital when asked about cybersecurity in the agriculture sector.
“Some critical infrastructure providers have advanced cybersecurity preparedness, risk understanding and risk management practices, and very strong security programs,” said Yolan, who is based in Howard County, Maryland. On the other hand, there are some places where preparations are woefully inadequate.”
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduate of Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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