Cyber-Kinetic Security

The book explores intricate interconnectedness of the cyber and physical worlds. As our interactions with physical objects increasingly rely on embedded computational systems, we unlock capabilities that surpass even the most ambitious predictions of past futurists. However, this fusion also introduces profound vulnerabilities.

The book describes in detail over 40 real-life cyber-kinetic incidents – cybersecurity incidents that resulted in injuries or fatalities. The book explores the potential threats of our cyber-connected world, reevaluates our current cybersecurity approaches, and offers strategies for risk reduction and mitigation in the face of cyber-kinetic attacks.

Completed in 2017, “Cyber-Kinetic Security” by Marin Ivezic was withdrawn from publication due to organizations impacted by the incidents mentioned in the book retracted their initial approval, choosing to keep the the incidents confidential.

While complying with the request, I firmly believe that keeping such information hidden is not beneficial. Sharing anonymized details of real-life incidents is crucial for raising awareness and imparting lessons learned. This can help other organizations prevent similar attacks.

Articles that follow are adapted from non-controversial book chapters.

Cyber-Kinetic Security, IoT Security, OT Security

The World of Cyber-Physical Systems & Rising Cyber-Kinetic Risks

Correction, 8 November 2026: An earlier version of this article gave the sewage released as more than 264,000 liters; the Abrams and Weiss case study puts it at about 800,000 liters. I have corrected the text below. We live in a world in which the way we observe and control ...

History of Cyber-Kinetic Incidents and Research

Correction, 8 November 2026: An earlier version of this article gave the Maroochy sewage release as more than 264,000 liters (about 800,000 liters); described San Bruno as caused by operating-system deficiencies and gave 37 homes destroyed (a defective 1956 pipe section ruptured when pressure rose during electrical work; 38 homes); ...

Stuxnet and the Birth of Cyber-Kinetic Weapons

Correction, 8 November 2026: An earlier version of this article said Stuxnet erased itself from systems without the target PLCs. Stuxnet stayed on those Windows machines and left their PLCs alone; its spreading limits are what were meant to contain it. I have corrected the text below. Stuxnet was the ...

Navigating a Safe Course Through Maritime Cyberattacks

The open seas have long attracted those who yearned for adventure. The risk of pitting oneself against a vast and unforgiving sea has tested sailors’ mettle for millennia. It’s not surprising that the maritime industry is one that thrives on facing – and overcoming – risks. But, as technology increasingly ...

Growing Cyber-Kinetic Vulnerabilities of Railway Systems

In their growing efforts to increase efficiencies through digitization and automation, railways are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-kinetic attacks as they move away from strictly mechanical systems and bespoke standalone systems to digital, open-platform, standardized equipment built using Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) components. In addition, the increasing use of ...

IEMI – Threat of Intentional Electromagnetic Interference

As our cities, our transportation, our energy and manufacturing – our everything – increasingly embrace Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Controls Systems (ICS), securing its underlying cyber-physical systems (CPS) grows ever more crucial. Yet, even among engineers and cybersecurity specialists, one potential attack trajectory is often overlooked: Intentional Electromagnetic ...