Cow and calf die after cyberattack on milking robot

A ransomware attack on a dairy farm in the Swiss canton of Zug has resulted in the tragic deaths of a cow and her calf. Cybercriminals targeted the farm's computers and milking robot, demanding a ransom of $10,000 to decrypt the data. The farmer, Bircher, opted not to pay the ransom, and although the milking robot continued to operate without a network connection, he lost access to critical data regarding the health and milking status of his cows. This lack of information led to the death of the calf in the womb, and the cow had to be euthanized due to the delayed response to the emergency. The attack caused financial losses exceeding €6,400, primarily from veterinary expenses and the need to replace a computer. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about cybersecurity in agriculture, where many farmers remain unaware of the risks associated with digitalization. A significant portion of farmers (46%) view inadequate IT security as a major barrier to adopting digital technologies in their operations.

- A ransomware attack on a Swiss dairy farm led to the deaths of a cow and her calf.

- The farmer refused to pay the ransom, resulting in a loss of critical health data for the animals.

- The attack caused financial damages exceeding €6,400, mainly from veterinary costs.

- Many farmers are unaware of cybersecurity risks, hindering digitalization in agriculture.

- Concerns about IT security are a significant barrier to adopting new technologies in farming.