Farmers are being targeted by cyber-criminals

AT THE TOP of farmers’ concerns about crime are fly-tipping, sheep-rustling and livestock-worrying. Cybersecurity ranks low. “We’re all fully clued up,” says one. Among those charged with disabusing farmers of such complacency is Mark Moore of Devon and Cornwall Police, who leads the South West Cyber Resilience Centre, one of eight non-profit companies set up by the Home Office in the past couple of years to advise small businesses. When dishing out advice, he keeps it simple (change passwords frequently), rather than worrying them about “the whole Putin and China thing”.