US says hackers are targeting vulnerable water systems with the help of AI | TechCrunch

The U.S. cybersecurity agencies CISA, FBI, and NSA jointly issued a warning stating that hackers are using artificial intelligence to create vulnerability scripts to attack the vulnerable water systems in several states across the country, including Minnesota, Michigan, Arkansas, Georgia, and New Jersey. The main targets of this attack are Siemens S7 programmable logic controllers, which are used to control the automated physical processes of key infrastructure such as energy and water services. By exploiting publicly available information, hackers can infiltrate controllers with outdated software or insufficient security measures, potentially causing facility downtime, safety incidents, and even equipment damage. This action is seen as a continuation of recent attacks by Iranian hackers on U.S. water and wastewater suppliers. Although CISA has long recommended disconnecting such devices from the internet to enhance security, remote areas are most affected due to their wide geographical coverage.