Manufacturing Security: Why Default Passwords Must Go
Briefly

Iranian hackers breached a US water facility, controlling a pressure station due to the use of the default password '1111.' This incident underscored the ease of access through default credentials, prompting CISA to advocate for the removal of such passwords. Default passwords exist for several reasons, including simplifying setup and supporting legacy systems. Their presence can lead to significant cybersecurity consequences, such as botnets and ransomware attacks. The responsibility for addressing this vulnerability lies with IT teams and manufacturers alike.
Default passwords like 'admin/admin' or '1234' represent a glaring security gap that attackers love to exploit, despite the well-documented risks they pose.
The consequences of using default passwords include risks like botnet recruitment, ransomware entry points, supply-chain compromises, and general security bypass.
CISA urges manufacturers to eliminate default credentials entirely, citing years of evidence that these preset passwords remain one of the most exploited weaknesses.
Allowing unchanged manufacturer passwords in a network is akin to rolling out the red carpet for attackers, highlighting the urgency of better security practices.
Read at The Hacker News
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