Re: LOTS of US Water Plants Hit by Hacks

The Natural Philosopher <[email protected]> Thu, 6 Aug 2026 12:19:54 +0100
Newsgroups comp.os.linux.misc
Organization A little, after lunch
Message-ID <[email protected]>
On 05/08/2026 21:19, Robert Riches wrote:
> 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
> 
Oh Strowgers...et all.

>          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepping_switch
> 
>    - stepper motors -- used in lot of current equipment
> 
>          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepper_motor
> 
Sorry, I hadn't heard the stuff described as just 'steppers' before, 
Stepping witches, Strowgers, Uniselectors etc etc.




-- 
"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow witted 
man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest 
thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly 
persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid 
before him."

    - Leo Tolstoy