Security News > 2021 > March > Hackers attempt to poison the well, but AI cybersecurity solutions bolster water treatment facility security

After a breach at a Florida treatment facility, tap water security is front and center.

After a cyberattack on a Florida treatment facility, conversations surrounding tap water security are front and center for IT teams and H2O-quaffing humans alike.

In February, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference explaining a cybersecurity attack on a Florida water treatment facility that reportedly involved increasing the sodium hydroxide-a component found in myriad household cleaners-to potentially dangerous levels.

The South Coast Water District facility sees a variety of cybersecurity threats, according to Black, ranging from email phishing to social engineering schemes; efforts designed to obtain or mislead individuals into divulging sensitive security information.

To identify and mitigate threats, the water treatment facility has tapped Darktrace's AI monitoring system.

Historically, cybersecurity at the Laguna Beach facility has relied on "Traditional static systems" such as firewall, spamware, malware, internal education, best practices outreach and "Aggressive patching," Black said.

News URL

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/hackers-attempt-to-poison-the-well-but-ai-cybersecurity-solutions-bolster-water-treatment-facility-security/#ftag=RSS56d97e7