FBI shares tips with farmers on how to protect agriculture infrastructure

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Members of the FBI are meeting in Omaha today, sharing tips to protect critical infrastructure, like agriculture, from threats that can come from technology.

The President of the Nebraska Farm Bureau says the industry throughout the heartland generates around $100 billion each year.

An FBI spokesperson says they are working to protect the ag industry from four major threats: business operations stopping, data technology theft, malware making its way onto farming equipment, and any threats from bioterrorism.

There are also several steps you can take to protect yourself and your business.

“Basic cyber hygiene, multifactor authentication, air gap backups of your most critical data,” Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel said. “The greater degree that our farmers, our producers, our ranchers are aware of this, are cognizant of what the risk is and are willing to come to law enforcement to report it, the greater degree we can protect the entire industry.”

Nebraska is the third largest agricultural sector in the nation.

For more tips on how to protect yourself from any threats, you can visit the FBI’s website.

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