Whether you like it or not (does anyone really dislike it?) thesolar power it's everywhere. It's like that kind neighbor who always says hello from the backyard: good morning, good evening and sometimes even goodnight, if there is an energy storage system. Especially in recent years, it seems that everyone wants a piece of this "domestic sunshine". And I believe you: clean, renewable energy that just asks for a little space on the roof or balcony.
But have you ever thought about what could happen if someone started playing, even from a distance, with our solar panels? Like hackers, ladies and gentlemen.
Clean energy, dirty games: solar undulators and computer security
Recently, the Dutch Communications Authority, RDI, has released a report that sounds like an alarm bell. It seems that our friends solar plants, or rather, their undulators, could be quite vulnerable to cyber attacks.
What are solar undulators? For those who are a little rusty on the terminology, they are those useful devices that transform the energy produced by solar panels into electricity that can be used by our beloved household appliances.
What's the problem? According to the report, the undulators have quite obvious flaws and security gaps: with a little dexterity, hackers could gain control of the system or block access to devices connected to the same network.
For hackers it is a modern Trojan horse
There are many possible methods of fraudulent access (and the related damages). A hacker, we read in the Dutch report, could upset the electrical system of our home, our office or our company.
As if that wasn't enough, it might also gain access to valuable personal information. Studies conducted by the RDI have shown that solar undulators of different brands can be easily disabled remotely, leaving room for possible attacks.
There is shade even in full sun
In a world where we are increasingly connected, the security of our information is paramount. This is why the RDI supports the adoption of a law that punishes manufacturers who do not secure their devices from possible hacker attacks. A proposal that underlines how important it is to protect yourself from the risk of piracy, even in the world of green energy.
If you are interested in the topic, you can learn more here the content of the report.
