"Government Security Experts Issue Farmers with New Advice"

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued cybersecurity guidance for farmers as cyberthreats facing rural businesses continue to grow. The comprehensive guide, titled "Cybersecurity for Farmers," outlines best practices for recognizing suspicious emails, managing passwords, securing devices, backing up data, and more. The increased use of automated machinery, smart security cameras, and software for back-office management and productivity prompted the development of this guide as such technologies have made the agriculture sector more attractive to cybercriminals. Cyberattacks on agricultural businesses can lead to the exposure of confidential data as well as significant financial losses. Stuart Roberts, the National Farmers Union deputy president, emphasized farmers' increased reliance on technologies and cybercriminals' growing sophistication in the exploitation of vulnerabilities contained by those technologies to steal money, data, and passwords. Suggestions for farmers include regularly patching software, replacing end-of-life (EOL) operating systems, applying encryption tools, and using firewalls. This article continues to discuss the importance and contents of NCSC's first-ever farmer-oriented guidance for cybersecurity. 

Infosecurity Magazine reports "Government Security Experts Issue Farmers with New Advice"