Cyberattacks on major food and agricultural companies have recently hit the world’s largest meat supplier, grain co-ops, and even affected two mid-Michigan businesses — including someone mimicking a fertilizer company — resulting in a $100,000 scam.
Ag leaders say others could be next, especially as harvest season approaches. That’s why they’re warning clients and employees about possible attacks, ones they must counter with better technology, training, and critical thinking.
“We need to be diligent in our efforts, protective of our assets, and make sure we're doing our part to keep our industry moving forward,” said Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Farm Bureau livestock and dairy specialist. “While these attacks go after money, the disruption can be felt in the entire marketplace: They cost our producers money because when we have a shutdown or a slowdown in our infrastructure or a market disruption, it can bring commerce to a screeching halt, and we can't afford that.”
In 2020 the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received a record number of cybercrime complaints, 791,790, with reported losses exceeding $4.1 billion. Attacks include phishing, spoofing, extortion, and other types of Internet-enabled fraud.
“It’s going to be a busy harvest season, and there's going to be a lot to handle,” said Chuck Lippstreu, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “We're reminding everybody that whenever you're dealing with technology, whenever you're dealing with information systems, whenever you're dealing with anything related to financial transactions, pause and scrutinize what you're doing.”
Click below to see the full interview with MFB’s Ernie Birchmeier, or click here.
(Note: media outlets may use the video below for any coverage related to cybersecurity)
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