A Windows virus hit the display consoles in the control room of the Australian national electricity grid, presumably leaving the managers bind to the system status. Luckily, system administrators had Linux-based systems for development that could be swapped out for the disabled Windows machines. It seems as much of a failure to properly maintain the Windows machines as a failure of judgment in using a virus-susceptible OS for mission critical systems, but it's fun schadenfreude fodder for Windows haters.
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Member since:2006-02-05
"And at that point, the non stupid companies will simply choose ANOTHER vendor of said human interface systems, rather than bend over and take it."
Yeah, we would love to. But let me give you an idea of what we are dealing with.
Top DCS Vendors (DCS = Distributed Control System, a networked system of controllers, I/O, servers, and workstations used to control most larger power plants, refineries, chemical plants, food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, etc.)
===============================================
Honeywell: Windows
Emerson: Windows (on DeltaV, their primary offering. They have a legacy niche offering mostly used in power plants that ran Unix at one time.)
Invensys: recently ditched Unix for Windows
Siemens: Windows
ABB: Windows. (Used to have Unix, don't know if they still do.)
PLC vendors (PLC = programmable logic controller, a high-speed logic processor commonly used in discrete manufacturing and some smaller continuous plants). I list the vendor's native HMI/programming platform.
=====================================================
Rockwell/Allen-Bradley: Windows
Schneider/Modicon: ???
GE: Windows
Siemens: Windows
ABB: Windows, maybe other.
Safety/Turbomachinery PLCs (same as above, but for high-integrity applications.
=====================================================
Invensys/Triconex: Windows
HIMA: Windows
Rockwell/ICS Triplex: Windows
ABB (old Moore Quadlog): Windows
Honeywell: Windows
Emerson: Windows
Bottom line is, if you want any kind of major industry player for your control system, you _will_ be using Windows, like it or not.
On a more positive note, the ISA (Instruments, Systems, and Automation) Society had some security talks at its annual Expo this week. They even had a wireless hacking demo. In 5 years they may be co-showing with DefCon 
Member since:2006-03-23
Member since:
2006-03-23
And at that point, the non stupid companies will simply choose ANOTHER vendor of said human interface systems, rather than bend over and take it.