• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2020

In the past, conservative concepts have been applied in terms of the characteristic of nuclear power plants(NPPs), resulting in analog-based equipment and closed networks. However, as digital technology has recently been applied to the design, digital-based facilities and communication networks have been used in nuclear power plants, increasing the risk of cybersecurity than using analog-based facilities. Nuclear power plant facilities are divided into a safety system and a non-safety system. It is essential to identify the difference and cope with cybersecurity threats to the safety system according to its characteristics. In this paper, we examine the cybersecurity regulatory guidelines for safety systems in nuclear power plant facilities. Also, we analyze cybersecurity threats to a programmable logic controller of the safety system and suggest cybersecurity requirements be applied to it to respond to the threats. By implementing security functions suitable for the programmable logic controller according to the suggested cybersecurity requirements, regulatory guidelines can be satisfied, and security functions can be extended according to other system requirements. Also, it can effectively cope with cybersecurity attacks that may occur during the operation of nuclear power plants.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to permeate every facet of modern life, the imperative to secure this vast and dynamic frontier becomes increasingly paramount. This presents a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities inherent in safeguarding the interconnected web of IoT devices. The research critically examines the limitations of current cybersecurity measures through an extensive review of diverse topics, including IoT network performance, smart grid security, and the escalating cyber threats against critical infrastructures. A meticulous analysis of research findings underscores the need for enhanced infrastructure and ongoing research to fortify the cybersecurity mechanisms surrounding IoT objects. We underline the imperative of relentless research efforts to parry the advancing threats and leverage the promise of nascent technologies. Our findings affirm the pivotal influence of robust cybersecurity measures in crafting a resiliently connected ecosystem. The paper underscores the importance of ongoing research to address evolving threats and harness the potential of emerging technologies, reaffirming the central role of cybersecurity in shaping a secure interconnected world. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity on the IoT frontier. It unveils a complex landscape of challenges, ranging from network performance intricacies to the security concerns of critical infrastructures.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2022

The application of digital technology to instrumentation and control systems in nuclear power plants has overcome many shortcomings of analog technology, but the threat of cybersecurity has increased. Along with other systems, the reactor protection system also uses digital-based equipment, so responding to cybersecurity threats is essential. We generally determine cybersecurity threats according to the role and function of the system. However, since the instrumentation and control system has various systems linked to each other, it is essential to analyze cybersecurity threats together between the connected systems. In this paper, we analyze the cybersecurity threat of the reactor protection system with the associated facilities. To this end, we quantitatively identified the risk of the reactor protection system by considering safety functions, a communication type, the use of analog or digital-based equipment of the associated systems, and the software vulnerability of the configuration module of the reactor protection system.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.123-130
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• 2021

Cybersecurity has been vital for decades and will remain vital with upcoming ages with new technological developments. Every new day brings advancement in technology, which leads to new horizons, and at the same time, it brings new security challenges. Numerous researchers around the globe are continuously striving hard to provide better solutions for the daily basis of new arising security issues. However, the challenges are always there. These challenges become new norms during the current Covid pandemic, where most industries, small industrial enterprises, education, finance, public sectors, etc. were under several attacks and threats globally. The hacker has more opportunities during the pandemic period by shifting most of the operations live. This research enlightened the several cybersecurity attacks and threats during this pandemic time globally. It provided the best possible recommendations to avoid them using the cyber awareness and with appropriately linked training. This research can provide a guideline to the above stated sector by identifying the related attacks.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.3-10
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• 2013

Cyber attacks are threats to national security. Today, cybersecurity threats have various types, the theft or spread of privacy and national secret, the realization of direct attacks to infrastructure and the hacktivism with political or social objectives. Furthermore, There are special situations in South Korea because of North Korea's threats. Thus, It is necessary to handle cybersecurity as a kind of national security problem. It is a time to identify problems of governance system in cybersecurity and to improve related Acts and subordinate statutes. There are several tasks for legal improvement for governance system in cybersecurity. They are improving legal bases for the roles of the relevant authorities in cybersecurity, consolidating national joint response to cyber accidents, establishing and vitalizing information sharing system, constructing foundation of cybersecurity through industry promotion and manpower development, and acquiring defensive tools by enhancement research an development. In order to address these challenges, it is necessary to pay much attention to enactment and to revision laws and to practice legislative procedure.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.857-880
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• 2016

Due to an increasing number of cyberattacks globally, cybersecurity has become a crucial part of national security in many countries. In particular, the Digital Pearl Harbor has become a real and aggressive security threat, and is considered to be a global issue that can introduce instability to the dynamics of international security. Against this context, the cyberattacks that targeted nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the Republic of Korea triggered concerns regarding the potential effects of cyber terror on critical infrastructure protection (CIP), making it a new security threat to society. Thus, in an attempt to establish measures that strengthen CIP from a cybersecurity perspective, we perform a case study on the cyber-terror attacks that targeted the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. In order to fully appreciate the actual effects of cyber threats on critical infrastructure (CI), and to determine the challenges faced when responding to these threats, we examine factual relationships between the cyberattacks and their responses, and we perform analyses of the characteristics of the cyberattack under consideration. Moreover, we examine the significance of the event considering international norms, while applying the Tallinn Manual. Based on our analyses, we discuss implications for the cybersecurity of CI in South Korea, after which we propose a framework for strengthening cybersecurity in order to protect CI. Then, we discuss the direction of national policies.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2021

With the development of information technology, the cybersecurity threat continues as digital-related technologies are applied to the instrumentation and control system of nuclear power plants. The malfunction of the instrumentation and control system can cause economic damage due to shutdown, and furthermore, it can lead to national disasters such as radioactive emissions, so countering cybersecurity threats is an important issue. In general, the study of cybersecurity in instrumentation and control systems is concentrated on safety systems, and diverse protection systems perform protection and reactor shutdown functions, leading to reactor shutdown or, in the worst case, non-stop situations. To accurately analyze cyber threats in the diverse protection system, its linked facilities should be analyzed together. Risk analysis should be conducted by analyzing the potential impact of inter-facility cyberattacks on related facilities and the impact of cybersecurity on each configuration module of the diverse protection system. In this paper, we analyze the linkage of the diverse protection system and discuss the cybersecurity linkage threat by analyzing the availability of equipment, the cyber threat impact of the linked equipment, and the configuration module's cybersecurity vulnerability.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.991-1003
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• 2022

Industrial control systems (ICSs) used to be operated in closed networks, that is, separated physically from the Internet and corporate networks, and independent protocols were used for each manufacturer. Thus, their operation was relatively safe from cyberattacks. However, with advances in recent technologies, such as big data and internet of things, companies have been trying to use data generated from the ICS environment to improve production yield and minimize process downtime. Thus, ICSs are being connected to the internet or corporate networks. These changes have increased the frequency of attacks on ICSs. Despite this increased cybersecurity risk, research on ICS security remains insufficient. In this paper, we analyze threats in detail using STRIDE threat analysis modeling and DREAD evaluation for distributed control systems, a type of ICSs, based on our work experience as cybersecurity specialists at a refinery. Furthermore, we verify the validity of threats identified using STRIDE through case studies of major ICS cybersecurity incidents: Stuxnet, BlackEnergy 3, and Triton. Finally, we present countermeasures and strategies to improve risk assessment of identified threats.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1167-1187
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• 2020

We are facing the situation where cyber threats such as hacking, malware, data leakage, and theft, become an important issue in the perspective of personal daily life, business, and national security. Although various efforts are being made to response to the cyber threats in the national and industrial sectors, the problems such as the industry-academia skill-gap, shortage of cybersecurity professionals are still serious. Thus, in order to overcome the skill-gap and shortage problems, we propose a Cybersecurity technical response Job Competency(CtrJC) framework by adopting the concept of cybersecurity personnel's job competency. As a sample use-case study, we implement the CtrJC against to personals who are charged in realtime cybersecurity response, which is an important job at the national and organization level, and verify the our framework's effects. We implement a sample model, which is a CtrJC against to realtime cyber threats (We call it as CtrJC-R), and study the verification and validation of the implemented model.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-54
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• 2022

Recently, the importance of collecting, analyzing, and real-time sharing of various cybersecurity data has emerged in order to effectively respond to intelligent and advanced cyber threats. To cope with this situation, Korea is making efforts to expand its cybersecurity data sharing system, but many private companies are unable to participate in the cybersecurity data sharing system due to a lack of budget and professionals to collect cybersecurity data. In order to solve such problems, this paper analyzes the research and development trends of existing domestic and foreign cyber security data sharing systems, and based on that, propose a cybersecurity data sharing system model with a hierarchical structure that considers the size of the organization and a step-by-step security policy that can be applied to the model. In the case of applying the model proposed in this paper, it is expected that various private companies can expand their participation in cybersecurity data sharing systems and use them to prepare a response system to respond quickly to intelligent security threats.