September 2011

Byres Security Acquired by Belden: Message from the Founders

Submitted by Eric Byres on Thu, 2011-09-01 21:00

Today is a big news day for Byres Security Inc. (BSI), as we are announcing that our company has been acquired by Belden Inc.

We (Joann Byres and Eric Byres) are writing this article to let you know what the future has in store for us, and for our company.

What will stay the same?

Byres Security Inc. will run as an independent business unit under Belden, and the Tofino Security brand will remain the same.

BSI will continue:

Antivirus Protection for SCADA Security - A Silver Bullet?

Submitted by Eric Byres on Thu, 2011-09-15 09:30

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a user asking about antivirus protection for SCADA systems. Now I think antivirus is an essential tool for ICS and SCADA systems. However, this is what he wrote:

My security supplier tells me that attacks from Stuxnet (and next-Stuxnet like worms) can be avoided by protecting WinCC computers using an antivirus product. This will make the PLC perfectly safe, they tell me.

The Future of Security from the NSA Trusted Computing Conference

Submitted by Eric Byres on Fri, 2011-09-23 11:02

I am just flying back from attending my first NSA Trusted Computing Conference in Orlando, Florida. While this is not an ICS or SCADA security conference, if you want to get a glimpse of what security technologies to expect in the next decade, this is a good show to attend.

A Truly Portable SCADA Security Simulator

Submitted by Eric Byres on Thu, 2011-09-29 09:45

It has been almost 25 years since I first started working in the industrial network field and 15 years since I first focused on SCADA and ICS security.  From the start, I have been amazed at how difficult it is to get people to see the whole picture.

For example, control engineers know what a PLC or control loop is, but constantly underestimate the impacts that cyber threats have on their industrial processes.  IT professionals understand the risks, but often don’t understand the processes and components.