Cyberattacks are increasingly targeting various sectors in Canada, including the agri-food industry, as it becomes more reliant on digital tools, sensors, and online connectivity. Unlike larger industries, agriculture, especially at the primary level, is composed of many small, independent businesses with limited IT resources and cybersecurity awareness.
Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Guelph, highlighted the rising risks to farms at the Canadian Dairy XPO. He emphasized that hackers often target vulnerable systems, using methods like ransomware, where data is encrypted until a ransom is paid. Dehghantanha shared examples of farms being targeted, including a southern Ontario dairy farm hit multiple times by ransomware. While his team successfully restored the system, he warned that attackers often return if security measures are weak.
Beyond protecting their operations, farmers also need cybersecurity to avoid legal consequences. In one case, a farm was sued by a bank after its compromised systems were used in a cyberattack on the bank. Dr. Dehghantanha emphasized the importance of using secure passwords, regularly updating software, and employing monitoring systems to detect threats early.
Cyber threats in agriculture come from three main sources: opportunistic criminals, state-sponsored hackers (notably from China and Iran), and activists. Dehghantanha’s lab, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, has developed a security monitoring system for farms and offers workshops and training to help the sector improve its defenses.
Dr. Janos Botschner, through the Cyber Security Capacity in Canadian Agriculture project, provided farmers with practical tips to reduce cyber risks, such as keeping software updated, using strong passwords, regularly backing up data, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and ensuring third-party vendors have proper security measures in place.
This growing focus on cybersecurity is vital for protecting both farm operations and the broader food supply chain.
