The recent alert from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) is a clear warning to manufacturers, utilities, food processing plants, and any business that relies on industrial control systems (ICS). According to a report from CSO Online, hacktivists are increasingly targeting ICS devices that are exposed to the internet. These include systems used in water utilities, oil and gas companies, and even grain-drying silos.
Source: CSO Online
In one case, attackers accessed a control system at a water utility and changed pressure values. In another, they manipulated tank gauge sensors at a fuel facility, triggering false alarms. In a third incident, they altered temperature and humidity controls at a grain silo. These examples reveal that modern attackers are not only after data. They are willing to interfere with physical processes, disrupt operations, and put safety at risk.
As the CCCS explained, “While individual organizations may not be direct targets of adversaries, they may become victims of opportunity as hacktivists are increasingly exploiting internet-accessible ICS devices to gain media attention, discredit organizations, and undermine Canada’s reputation.”
If you work in manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, or utilities, your systems may already be exposed to similar risks. Devices like programmable logic controllers (PLCs), remote terminal units (RTUs), SCADA systems, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and industrial IoT devices are common entry points for attackers.
Unfortunately, many businesses still rely on traditional endpoint protection that follows a Detect and Respond approach. This model waits for threats to be identified before taking action. By the time a detection occurs, an attacker could have already changed system settings, established persistence, or caused downtime.
The issue, as CSO Online noted, is that too many ICS devices remain directly connected to the internet or poorly secured. Even with a solid response plan, the damage may already be done before an alert is triggered.
Traditional cybersecurity relies on finding and reacting to threats. But in industrial environments where downtime can mean millions in losses, waiting for alerts is too late. The smarter approach is to isolate and contain threats before they ever act.
Isolation means separating critical assets so attackers cannot move laterally into control systems.
Containment means limiting what applications and processes are allowed to do, preventing malware from executing its malicious functions.
This approach doesn’t rely on recognizing known malware or attack signatures. It blocks actions that should never happen in the first place.
AppGuard is a proven endpoint protection platform that prevents attacks through Isolation and Containment, not detection. For more than a decade, it has protected high-security government and enterprise environments. It works by blocking malicious actions at the kernel level, so even unknown or zero-day threats cannot execute.
AppGuard stops malware before it runs, without relying on signatures or constant updates. It enforces Zero Trust at the endpoint level, allowing only approved processes to operate. This means fewer alerts, reduced response times, and greater protection against evolving threats.
AppGuard has now become available for commercial use, allowing small and medium-sized businesses to benefit from the same level of protection once reserved for critical systems.
The attack surface is expanding. ICS and IoT devices are increasingly online for monitoring and control, creating easy targets.
Detect and Respond is no longer enough. Modern attacks move too fast and too quietly.
Isolation limits damage. Even if a breach occurs, its spread is stopped immediately.
Lower operational strain. Fewer alerts and faster containment mean less stress on security teams.
Proven success. AppGuard’s 10-year record of reliability shows it can handle the threats that detection-based systems miss.
Identify and secure all connected control systems and IoT devices.
Ensure remote access is restricted and protected by multifactor authentication.
Deploy AppGuard to enforce isolation policies on critical endpoints.
Restrict unknown or unauthorized executables from running.
Test isolation strategies to confirm that malware cannot spread across systems.
By taking these actions, organizations can significantly reduce risk without waiting for detection alerts that come too late.
Hacktivists targeting ICS systems is no longer a theoretical threat. It’s happening now, and it can affect any organization that depends on connected systems. The Canadian Cyber Centre’s warning is a reminder that industrial control systems are not just IT assets—they are operational lifelines.
Businesses must shift from Detect and Respond to Isolation and Containment to stay ahead of these attacks. Reactive tools simply can’t keep up with the speed and creativity of modern cyber threats.
Call to Action:
Talk with us at CHIPS about how AppGuard can prevent these types of incidents. Let’s work together to move your business from a reactive security posture to a proactive one focused on Isolation and Containment.
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