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Researcher increases threat to critical computer systems

Industrial systems computers used in the management of facilities such as water plants and gas refineries now face real online threats from hackers, thanks to an online security researcher.

This follows the publication of a code by researcher Kevin Finisterre which could be used to hijack these computers, according to PC World.

The researcher has reportedly published the code in a bid to raise awareness of the vulnerabilities in the systems and make software vendors pay more attention to the systems as they run critical infrastructure.

"A lot of the people who run these systems feel that they're not bound by the same rules as traditional IT," Finisterre who works for security testing firm Netragard said.

"Their industry is not very familiar with hacking and hackers in general."

Attacks to such computers are not unheard of. In 2003, the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant was reportedly infected with the SQL Slammer worm, according to PC World.

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