Unveiling the Growing Threat of USB-Borne Cyber Attacks on Industrial Infrastructure

Honeywell’s latest release, the 2024 USB Threat Report, sheds light on the emerging peril of “silent residency” cyber threats targeting industrial and critical infrastructure facilities. This report underscores the escalating risk posed by “living off the land” (LotL) attacks, where adversaries exploit USB devices to infiltrate industrial control systems, laying dormant until opportune moments to strike.

Michael Ruiz, Honeywell’s vice president of OT cybersecurity, emphasizes that modern cyber-physical attacks transcend traditional exploits, focusing on silent residency tactics to covertly compromise systems. This tactic allows attackers to clandestinely observe operations before launching devastating assaults that evade detection.