Cyber Attacks and FBI Pt 1

Cyber Attacks and FBI Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Good cybersecurity is a priority in agriculture because the impact of cybercrime can be devastating.

Gene Kowel is the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Field Office in Omaha, Nebraska …

KOWEL … “The national security risk to our businesses, our farms, our ranches, like our food processing facilities is really growing exponentially, and no one is immune."

The FBI, Kowel says, is monitoring four major threats to agriculture: ransomware attacks, malicious software, data theft, and bioterrorism.

KOWEL … “The primary threat, the most immediate threat would be the halting of business operations due to criminal ransomware attacks during pivotal times like planting and harvesting. Any attack by our adversaries would, whether on the criminal side or from nation states to shut down our ability to produce food, feed and biofuel could be devastating for this country."

Kowel says it’s become a blended threat as they work to mitigate it …

KOWEL … “You know, the other stuff we’re also worried about, which people don’t always think about is really the theft of our data and our technology and our innovation."

But with some of the largest ag companies falling victim to cybercrime, is it possible for the everyday farmer to keep their business safe? …

KOWEL … “But I think it takes a lot of awareness and discipline. I think one thing about our agricultural industry is it is very decentralized. But it also means that there’s a lot of farmers and ranchers and food producers out there who don’t have an overabundance of cybersecurity resources."

Listen tomorrow for more on the threat of cyberattacks in agriculture.

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