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Almost Every Second Industrial Computer Was Subjected To Malicious Cyber Activity In 2018

Almost Every Second Industrial Computer Was Subjected To Malicious Cyber Activity In 2018

In 2018, Kaspersky Lab detected and prevented activity by malicious objects on almost half of Industrial Control System (ICS) computers protected by the company’s products and defined as part of an organisation’s industrial infrastructure. The most affected countries were Vietnam, Algeria and Tunisia. These are some of the main findings of the Kaspersky Lab ICS CERT report on the industrial threat landscape in H2 2018.

Malicious cyber activities on ICS computers are considered an extremely dangerous threat as they could potentially cause material losses and production downtime in the operation of industrial facilities.

In 2018, the share of ICS computers that experienced such activities grew to 47.2 percent from 44 percent in 2017, indicating that the threat is rising

According to the new report, the top three countries in terms of the percentage of ICS computers on which Kaspersky Lab prevented malicious activity were the following: Vietnam (70.09 percent), Algeria (69.91 percent), and Tunisia (64.57 percent). The least impacted nations were Ireland (11.7 percent), Switzerland (14.9 percent), and Denmark (15.2 percent).

“Despite the common myth, the main source of threat to industrial computers is not a targeted attack, but mass-distributed malware that gets into industrial systems by accident, over the internet, through removable media such as USB-sticks, or e-mails. However, the fact that the attacks are successful because of a casual attitude to cybersecurity hygiene among employees means that they can potentially be prevented by staff training and awareness – this is much easier than trying to stop determined threat actors,” said Kirill Kruglov, security researcher at Kaspersky Lab ICS CERT.

Threats Against Industrial Computers In Singapore And Southeast Asia

When it comes to the regions worldwide with the highest proportion of ICS machines on which malicious activity was prevented by Kaspersky Lab, Southeast Asia came in second, with 57.8 percent of infected machines in H2 2018, following closely behind the most infected region, Africa at 60.5 percent.

In Singapore, the distribution of detected infection rate was 20.7 percent, and this figure was also the lowest across Southeast Asia. Within Asia Pacific, Singapore had the second lowest distribution of detected infections in H2 2018, edging behind Hong Kong at 15.3 percent.

“From 23 percent of ICS machines almost infected during the first six months of 2018, Singapore recorded a nearly three percent lower infection rate against their critical systems for last year’s final half. We commend the government and the enterprises’ significant strides in prioritising cybersecurity, and our latest figures undoubtedly prove the fruits of their labour. We are hopeful that Singapore will continue to be mindful that large-scale cyberattacks against critical systems have the potential to cripple manufacturing and disturb the nation’s operations, especially as the country continues to embark on its Smart Nation Initiative,” commented Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia, Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab ICS CERT Recommends Implementing The Following Technical Measures:

  • Regularly update operating systems, application software on systems that are part of the enterprise’s industrial network.
  • Apply security fixes to PLC, RTU and network equipment used in ICS networks where applicable.
  • Restrict network traffic on ports and protocols used on edge routers and inside the organisation’s OT networks.
  • Audit access control for ICS components in the enterprise’s industrial network and at its boundaries.
  • Deploy dedicated endpoint protection solutions on ICS servers, workstations and HMIs, such as Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity. This solution includes network traffic monitoring, analysis and detection to secure OT and industrial infrastructure from both random malware infections and dedicated industrial threats.
  • Make sure security solutions are up-to-date and all the technologies recommended by the security solution vendor to protect from targeted attacks are enabled.
  • Provide dedicated training and support for employees as well as partners and suppliers with access to your network.
  • Use ICS network traffic monitoring, analysis and detection solutions for better protection from attacks potentially threatening technological process and main enterprise assets.

 

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Renishaw & Infosys To Accelerate Metal Additive Manufacturing Use

Asia: Engineering and IT services company Infosys and Renishaw, metrology and additive manufacturing provider, have announced a strategic partnership to offer an end-to-end product development service using metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology.

The two companies are combining their engineering expertise and global resources to help customers accelerate their deployment of AM, also known as 3D printing, for volume production of end-use metal components.

When adopting any disruptive new manufacturing technology, firms will go through a rigorous assessment process to understand the potential benefits, and to prove the reliability and capability of the production process. The investment in time, resources and equipment to achieve this can be significant.

Applying its efficient engineering processes and design for AM knowledge, Infosys will manage product development projects from concept through to launch. Application engineering expertise, post-processing capability, and metrology will be providing by Renishaw in the form of its Additive Manufacturing Solutions Centres network.

Whilst additive manufacturing is changing the way that components are made, its bigger impact is on the design of products themselves. AM enables products that are lighter and more efficient in their use of resources, that facilitate exceptional heat transfer, that are integrated with fewer joints for greater reliability, or that are customised to adapt perfectly to a specific application. These gains in product capability are transforming AM into a mainstream manufacturing technology, used in series production of high performance parts for aerospace, medical, automotive, oil and gas, as well as mould and die.

Turning And Grinding Solutions For Machining Automotive Gears

Turning And Grinding Solutions For Machining Automotive Gears

Innovation in transmission design means that today’s transmissions are generally getting smaller, while simultaneously offering more gear ratios. In what ways have machining automotive gears improved? By Markus Isgro, marketing communications, Emag

The production of a large volume of parts with extremely high quality has been a key feature in the production of automotive transmissions for decades. Developments in both the marketplace and technology, however, are continuing to change production at a very fast pace. For example, the demand for cars has been rising. This Turning And Grinding Solutions increase in quantity is pushing the production volume of gears even higher.

At the same time, the competition from new market participants in Asia is intensifying. What can the transmission builders of OEMs and suppliers do in their production areas to address these developments?

Multifunctional machines that perform an array of hard machining processes on the transmission components in succession are able to provide such a solution. Emag, with expertise in turning and grinding, have provided an option called the VLC 200 GT. This machine was developed for the chuck machining of automotive gears.

Innovation In-Transmission Design

The automobile industry is continuing to spend more money on research, and annual increases of between seven and eight percent in this area have long since become standard. OEMs and suppliers in Germany alone recorded more than 34 billion euros (US$36.5 million) in development expenses in the past year, according to a study by the German Association of the Automotive Industry.

One of the main focal points of this dynamic innovation is transmission design. Today’s transmissions are generally becoming smaller (and therefore lighter), but can simultaneously offer more gear ratios and therefore have more gears and gearing components. This produces optimum speed ranges and reduces fuel consumption.

Each individual gear must be manufactured extremely quickly and very precisely. Given the high unit volumes, the production technology is virtually always a concern for production planners. They try to find solutions that reduce processing time and unit costs, while still continuing to increase the quality of the parts.

Nearly 20 years ago, the first pick-up machine for the combined turning and grinding machining of chucked parts was developed. Its key feature was the combination of the two machining processes in rapid alternation, based on the shape of the workpiece and the quality required.

Building on this, the VLC 200 GT has focused on enhancing productivity, especially in the machining of automotive gears. Guido Hegener, managing director of Emag, explained the approach: “The high unit volume and quality requirements of gears make them ideally suited to our approach.”

Complete Process, Including Dressing

To start, the machine is loaded at high speed by the integrated pick-up spindle. Once the spindle with the part reaches its machining position, the process starts with hard pre-turning of the shoulder and the bore hole in quick succession.

Only a few micrometres of material are then left to be removed from the gear. That means the subsequent grinding process, using either aluminum oxide or CBN grinding wheels, takes significantly less time.

Meanwhile, the machining quality also benefits from the combination of turning and grinding: when there is only a small amount of material remaining to be ground away after turning, the specifications for the grinding wheel can be based more precisely on the end quality required. As a result, surfaces with an average peak-to-valley height Rz of less than 1.6 micrometres can be created.

In addition, this multifunctional technology offers users a multitude of possibilities, such as internal and external grinding spindles, scroll-free turning tools, block tool holders, and a 12-station tool turret, which can all be installed as required.

Tool Cost Savings

There is an additional advantage in terms of tool costs because during this process the grinding wheel wears down more slowly and therefore does not need to be dressed as often. When it does need dressing, the machine has a separate diamond-coated dressing roll designed specifically for this. To ensure sustained process reliability and high machining quality, the integrated measuring pin is used to check the diameter and length of the clamped component at the end of the process.

Operator comfort and ease of access were also important priorities, so large doors allow easy access to the machining area. The tools and clamping devices are easily accessible and can be changed quickly and conveniently.

Automated Option

With a small footprint and the ability to flexibly integrate into interlinked factory systems, the machine can be incorporated into a plant’s production system with the aid of a variety of automation systems.

One option for this is the TrackMotion system. This automation system handles the transportation from machine to machine with functions such as part gripping, positioning, and flipping of the workpiece.

“On the other hand, there is also the option of using the machine as a stand-alone machine with simple O-belt automation. This is an appealing alternative for many customers in the Asian markets especially,” Mr Hegener added.

The VLC 200 GT uses a variety of process combinations for the hard machining of checked components

The VLC 200 GT uses a variety of process combinations for the hard machining of checked components.

Dr Guido Hegener, managing director of Emag.

Dr Guido Hegener, managing director of Emag.

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