A Most Base Act

Perhaps the most disconcerting news item of today is the announcement that hackers gained access to the water system of the city of Oldsmar, Florida, and raised the amount of sodium hydroxide, used to regulate the pH level of tap water, from 100 ppm to 11,100 ppm:

Thankfully, a human operator noticed the tampering and was able to rectify this dangerous situation.

I'm not a big believer in the expansion of the 'Internet of Things'... I mean, why would I ever want my fridge connected to the internet?  I am wondering why this municipal water system in a small city was even accessible to computer hackers... the computer system should have been isolated from vulnerable networks.

Thankfully, a human operator was able to spot the tampering, and there are alarm systems which are activated when dangerous levels of sodium hydroxide are introduced into the system.  I'm not a luddite, but there is no substitute for an alert human observer, or an operator who can override automated systems when they malfunction.  Now, hopefully, human investigators will be able to locate the attackers and bring these base cowards to heel.