GSS hacker warning.

Global Secure Systems has warned that hackers can now destroy hardware systems, as well as software.

David Hobson, Managing Director at GSS, said that a US government video of a power station generator, released to the media, clearly shows what can happen when hackers take over control of a turbine system.

"The Department of Homeland Security video shows a mock-up of an industrial turbine taken over by hackers and destroyed by turning it into a heap of smoking metal," he said.

"This is what can happen to your company's hardware if a hacker gains access. We're not talking about a software crash--which is bad enough--we're talking about about real physical damage," he added.

Hobson's comments came after a video of power station hacker damage was released to the US media.

The video shows a series of commands quietly triggered by simulated hackers having such a violent reaction that the enormous turbine shudders as pieces fly apart and it belches black-and-white smoke.

Hobson said that the video serves as a stark reminder of what can happen if hackers gain access to systems they should not have control over.

"I urge any company manager to view the Associated Press media report and reflect on what can happen if their IT security systems are not up to scratch, after all if this is what can be done to part of the critical national infrastructure which has significant defenses, imagine what damage could be done to the average business, with hackers immobilizing your production line or turning off the power supply to your building. Managers do need to constantly review their IT security protection if they are to defend against hackers and malware attacks," he noted.

www.gss.co.uk