Cyber attacks do not just affect computer-related industries, and many areas of agriculture rely on systems that can be vulnerable to digital criminal behavior.
The National Intelligence Office says the numbers show U.S. entities are targeted the most.
“This year, cyber actors are attacking U.S. industrial control systems, which are typically used to automate industrial processes at record levels. Many critical infrastructure sectors, including water and wastewater, food and agriculture, defense, energy, and transportation, rely on such systems,” said Avril Haines.
Haines says government offices, including USDA, are always working to improve security. Cyber attackers usually make their moves by targeting weak passwords and poorly secured network connections.