Killware is a cyberattack designed to cause real-world harm. Instead of only stealing data or money, attackers aim to disrupt systems people rely on - power, water, hospitals, transport - so failures can lead to injuries or loss of life.
Modern infrastructure is deeply connected. A successful digital hit on operational tech can shut down care, delay responders, or taint supplies, turning a keyboard attack into a physical emergency.
Ransomware or wipers cripple critical systems to force downtime
Access to OT/ICS through flat networks or weak remote access
Supply chain compromises push malicious updates into trusted systems
Data tampering alters sensor readings or alarms so operators act on lies
Simultaneous outages across dependent systems
Sudden loss of visibility into sensors or alarms
Unexplained configuration changes on PLCs, HMIs, or gateways
Protect people first - fail safe to manual procedures.
Isolate affected networks and switch to known-good backups.
Engage incident response and regulators - preserve logs and images.
Segment and verify before bringing systems back online.
Separate IT and OT networks with strict segmentation and one-way gateways where possible
Enforce MFA, least privilege, and monitored remote access
Patch internet-facing assets fast and harden vendor connections
Continuously monitor OT with anomaly detection and tested runbooks
Run regular drills that include safety, clinicians, and operators