Anti-hacking Tech
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on Jan. 22 that it has successfully developed a technique to make a firewall for Modbus and DNP3 that can enhance safety from cyber threats and minimize damages.
The method can be utilized in the control system that uses Modbus or DNP3 protocols in water purification plants or electric grids. The installation of the firewall in the system will make industrial networks more secure and minimize the damages from malfunctions.
The research team at ETRI said that the newly-developed technology blocks unauthorized access and discovers message errors that cause the malfunction of the system. The core parts of the technology are the technique of analyzing packets coming from communications lines and that of matching them with abnormal patterns.
The system in question focuses on application layer protocols such as HTTP, FTP, and DNS, where an application process can access networks and mutual data exchange is possible, according to the team. Therefore, it detects and blocks abnormal access, including repeated access to the server, or the transmission of the same message.
ETRI has already transferred manufacturing technology to a related company, and the technique is scheduled to be commercialized in the latter half of this year. It is actively seeking to enter the cyber security market for industrial control systems at home and abroad. The company to which the technology was handed over only needs to install a set-top box-sized system in its control system of the facility.
The research team already made trial application tests of the technology to water purification plants late last year through the Korea Water Resources Corporation. Its reliability was proved by the successful demonstrations there.
ETRI is planning to apply international coding standards to the technology and find a way to penetrate overseas markets after the commercialization of the method.