BLUF
There is no country safe from a cyber-attack. SCADA was used to evaluate real time threats and
process data. Worms and malware are dangerous when it happens to an individual but Stuxnet
showed us that it is possible to connect to a machine and affect a country.
SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) is a mash up of physical and nonphysical
items that are used to monitor real time events of machinery plants. This system allows data to be
stored for historical purposes. When power plants began, companies would have people there on
sit the entire day and night to monitor the valves. We have been increasing the use of computers
and technology since then. The valves and monitors are now translated into SCADA. This means
that workers can be more remote and companies can hire less.
Stuxnet
Stuxnet was a computer worm that caused damage to Iran nuclear weapon system. Stuxnet
connected to the PCL (Program logical controllers). It originally targeted Iran nuclear weapon
system but has since started targeting industries that incorporate and use SCADA. It is suspected
that the creator of the worm was a country. No country has admitted to knowing anything about
Stuxnet (Zero Days). Stuxnet did show the world that SCADA has flaws and can be infected.
Racist Watch
In the 1950’s the United States and Iran were on good terms. We started to initiate a nuclear
weapon programs for Iran. This would include giving Iran nuclear research facilities. Due to
geopolitical reasons we pulled out of Iran’s nuclear program. This led to Iran not having a
working nuclear programs until decades later (Zero Days). When Iran started working on a
nuclear program they were instructed by the United Nations that they needed to be watched 24/7.
United Nations installed cameras inside the nuclear site and watched the Iranians all day long. At
a recent United Nations meeting President Raisi said, “While Iran’s peaceful nuclear program
includes only two per cent of the world’s nuclear programs, 35 per cent of inspections are of our
facilities.” There is no discussion about the United Kingdom or the United States. We do not
have our facilities watched at all and we would not allow them to be. There is a clear
disadvantage to Iran and I can sympathize on them turning their cameras off. Iran has followed
the rules and sanctions that have been put on them and should be allowed to move about freely
(United Nations).
Conclusion
We need to hire more human workers. This would open up jobs in the economy and would allow
companies not to get hacked. This would be a downfall for the companies and might be an extra
layer of protection but this is what is needed. You cannot hack a human. STUXNET would not
be able to happen and countries would be safer if they took the system out of the equation.
References
Cecchi Gori entertainment. (2018). Zero days [DVD]. Campi Bisenzio (FI).
United Nations. (n.d.). At UN, Iran’s leader decries West’s ‘double standard’ towards country’s
nuclear programme | | 1UN news. United Nations. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127371
YouTube. (2019). What is Scada? YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlFM1q9QPJw.