Re: LOTS of US Water Plants Hit by Hacks

On Wed, 5 Aug 2026 18:42:21 +0100, The Natural Philosopher 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.

If you want to be pedantic 'stepping switches'.

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

They were commonly referred to as 'steppers' in the day. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167685007179?
mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050&amdata=enc%3AAQALAAAAoGfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBy8wdJkViToPsAuY8UpY1csRzq63MYYGwDlvB%2FUtJ8TJVNwahnLQEyTJwNNIEKPOxAxSe08vBiReyRV5eF191eIB0JZ1ToPlD32vM%2FvmPZ9%2BwVvQE%2BJA7Mvf6QBj6zyllxR%2BIu%2BzcZNbhGDC2gxdAVTFa5O%2BR9%2B2V9u60C60wl0qiP7qbVaMto3QmxJsW%2Br%2BA%3D

https://tinyurl.com/dzcjhpew

This is a later model with the black plastic nibs that snapped into place 
on the cam. The earlier ones required breaking segments off the cam. One 
of the screens shows the large lead weight. The solenoid lifted it up and 
released it. Rotating the drum took more than a gentle suggestion.

As you might imagine it was a bit slow. We began a line of down acting 
hydraulic presses that opened a pilot operated check valve that allowed 
the ram to free fall rather than being pumped down. There was a limit 
switch that would advance the stepping switch, closing the check valve, 
and start the final closing under pressure. A client used very light 
hydraulic fluid and during the preliminary on-site testing the stepper 
barely quivered as the ram passed the momentary limit switch.  Crash! I 
had to add a relay to latch in the signal. For the next design I got rid 
of the legacy hardware entirely.

I learned something else of value. We bought the bare press frame from 
Daniels of Stroud.

https://www.stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/research/daniels/

Shortly before it was to be shipped the UK had one of their little dock 
strikes. A 100 ton press refers to the clamping force and doesn't weigh 
100 tons but shipping the thing air freight was a bit pricey. It would 
hardly fit into your carry on luggage. 

Depending on international trade has its drawbacks.