Solar Inverter Attacks

It seems that nothing is free from the risk of cyber attack and the latest candidate is the humble Solar Inverter sitting on your roof.
Imagine someone hacking into your home's solar panels and messing with how much power they produce. That's what security researchers found could happen with some popular solar panel systems.

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The Problem:

• Researchers found serious security holes in solar panels made by companies called Sungrow, Growatt, and SMA.
• These holes could let hackers control your solar panels from far away, through the internet.
• This isn't just about your home; it could affect the whole power grid.

What Could Happen:

• Hackers could turn your solar panels on and off, or change how much power they make.
• If they hacked into a lot of solar panels at once, they could cause problems for the power grid, like blackouts.
• Hackers could also steal your personal information or control other smart devices in your home that are connected to the same system.

Why This Matters:

• Solar panels are becoming more common, so this is a growing problem.
• If hackers mess with enough solar panels, they could cause big problems for everyone's electricity.
• It's also a privacy issue, as hackers could get into your home network.

The Good News:

• The companies that make these solar panels have been told about the problems.
• They've released updates to fix the security holes.
• If you have these solar panels, make sure they are updated with the latest software.

What You Can Do:

• If you have solar panels, check who made them.
• Make sure they have the latest software updates.
• Keep your home network secure with strong passwords and firewalls.

Basically, just like your computer or phone, your solar panels need to be protected from hackers. By keeping them updated and secure, you can help keep your home and the power grid safe.

​Ep315 - Image created by AI