Re: LOTS of US Water Plants Hit by Hacks

On 2026-08-04 09:10, rbowman wrote:
> On Mon, 3 Aug 2026 20:50:24 -0400, c186282 wrote:
> 
>>     Anyway, hardware PLCs are pretty stupid - you don't actually hack
>>     them directly. They're basically a replacement for a box of relays or
>>     equivs. Software PLCs - a uC or even better - are more "computers",
>>     oft net-connected these days. An Ard Uno would make a fair software
>>     PLC. A low-end PI even better.
> 
> https://www.realpars.com/blog/plc-hardware
> 
> What's a hardware PLC? It amazed me to find that they still use the ladder
> logic metaphor. I thought that was a temporary crutch when they started
> showing up in the '70s.
> 

I did a training course on them on 2002 and they certainly taught me 
ladder language (can be changed to text something). Coming from standard 
digital electronics, it is very weird on start, but then you grasp the 
idea and it is very useful.

It would not surprise me that they can be connected "somehow" to the LAN 
so that you can adjust parameters. Think of traffic lights, the city 
control room adjusts the timings according to hour or actual traffic 
conditions. Or they can obtain data which you want to save on computers.

If you connect them to the LAN, you can naively connect them to 
Internet. Saves moving your arse.

-- 
Cheers,
        Carlos E.R.
        ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;