Re: LOTS of US Water Plants Hit by Hacks

On 2026-08-05, The Natural Philosopher <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 05/08/2026 15:09, rbowman wrote:
>> On Wed, 5 Aug 2026 02:55:04 -0400, c186282 wrote:
>> 
>>>     Not sure how much 'steppers' were involved in THESE hacks. Sounds
>>>     more like spoofing instrument readings to cause downstream machinery
>>>     to run wild until it broke.
>> 
>> Steppers faded away in the '70s. Mostly. Never underestimate the use of
>> obsolete tech in US infrastructure.
>
> Steppers all over the place. Default thing to drive car instruments 
> these days. And 3D printers. And laser printers.

Sounds like the apparent disagreement might be a matter of which
kind of "stepper" each party is talking about:

  - stepping relays/switches -- used in very old mechanical
    telephone switching equipment

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepping_switch

  - stepper motors -- used in lot of current equipment

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepper_motor

-- 
Robert Riches
[email protected]
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)