Analysing cyber-physical attacks: The human operator challenge in mining
Document Type
Book
Publication Title
Psybersecurity: Human Factors of Cyber Defence
First Page
35
Last Page
51
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Science
Abstract
Cyber-physical systems (CPS) integrate humans, computers, networks, machines, and sensors. Driverless cars, smart cities, mining process plants (MPP), oil and gas offshore platforms, manufacturing process plants, and many other automated processes require interaction between their components and the human operator. All CPS are vulnerable to attacks, whether they are from internal or external sources, virtual or physical, local or remote. SCADA systems monitor and control physical processes that can be physically attacked, such as changing an actuator's status, short-circuiting a limit switch, or even breaking a valve. These cyber-physical attacks (CPA) can trigger a SCADA alarm. There are also cyber vulnerabilities where a malicious attacker can insert false codes in a Programmable Logic Computer (PLC), modify historical data, change the temperature of a network-controlled thermostat, or even delay the operation of a network-controlled actuator just enough to create an alarm which could induce a shutdown of the entire MPP. The harsh environment and isolation of mining sites create psychological pressure for human operators facing this technology. The long shifts, sometimes for weeks far from family and friends, create a stressful environment, as any production disruption could cost millions to the company. This chapter presents an analysis of the attacks and the role of the mining process plant operator. The process plant operator is challenged to deal with CPA, although they were not trained. Therefore, a conceptual machine learning autonomous operator is presented to unload the burden from the human operator of analysing the CPS SCADA System alarms to identify if CPAs are occurring or are malfunctioning in the CPS.
DOI
10.1201/9781032664859-2
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Couto, O., & Ibrahim, A. (2025). Analysing cyber-physical attacks: The human operator challenge in mining. In Psybersecurity (pp. 35-51). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781032664859-2