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Learn how the operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) security landscape has dramatically evolved from state-sponsored threats to ransomware operators and hacktivists in this 26-minute conference talk from DEF CON 33. Explore the critical shift that occurred after the 2021 Colonial Pipeline incident, which changed the focus from protecting against nation-state adversaries to defending against cybercriminals and activist groups. Discover how the current threat environment in 2025 presents an unprecedented challenge with the convergence of state adversaries, ransomware operators, and hacktivists, creating a dangerous alignment that puts advanced attack capabilities into the hands of less skilled threat actors. Examine why current security approaches are inadequate for this evolving threat landscape and gain insights into practical strategies and preparations needed to defend critical infrastructure against these emerging hybrid threats. Understand the implications of democratized advanced attack tools and learn actionable steps to strengthen OT/ICS security postures in preparation for future attacks.
