Invisible Invaders: Hardware Trojans and the Silent Takeover of Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructure is more vulnerable than ever—not just from cyberattacks but from an even more insidious threat: hardware Trojans. In this talk, we will expose the alarming ease with which a single compromised component can undermine entire industrial facilities, enabling attackers to manipulate, disrupt, or even take full control of critical operations.

Through a live demonstration, we will illustrate how a hardware Trojan can be embedded undetected, bypass traditional security measures, and execute a silent takeover of a plant’s control systems. By showcasing real-world attack vectors, this session aims to bridge the gap between hardware security and cybersecurity, emphasizing why critical infrastructure urgently needs dedicated hardware hackers.

Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of how supply chain weaknesses, insecure embedded systems, and lack of hardware scrutiny leave industrial plants exposed—and why addressing these gaps is no longer optional. This talk is a wake-up call for defenders, engineers, and decision-makers: If you’re not securing your hardware, you’re not securing your infrastructure.