Farm Data Vulnerable Too

As farmers become more reliant on digital data, they become a more appealing target to cyber criminals.

The FBI and USDA say criminals may steal farm-level data in bulk to track, even anticipate, crop availability and pricing. The data may also be vulnerable to ransomware or “hacktivists,” individuals who destroy data to protest, for example, the use of GMOs.

The agencies advise farmers to adopt a robust data back-up and recovery plan and ensure that the companies that manage their data have adequate cybersecurity and breach response plans. S