Analysing the Impact of Compromising IoT Consumer Devices in Power Systems

N. Rodríguez Pérez, J. Matanza, L. Sigrist, J.L. Rueda Torres, G. López

In the book Technology-Enabled Resilience: Innovations in Critical Infrastructure Protection: From AI-based Situational Awareness to Workforce Upskilling: A Holistic Approach to Critical Infrastructure Protection

Springer Nature BV, Cham, Switzerland

Summary

This chapter explores the potential risk in power systems due to the increasing penetration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices at the consumer level. It focuses on the potential for Manipulation of Demand through IoT (MaDIoT) attacks, where attackers exploit these devices to disrupt power system operations. For this, a comparative analysis of the impact of MaDIoT attacks on two distinct power system models is provided: the IEEE 39-Bus (New England) system and the PST-16 system (a simplified European model). By assuming that attackers lack advanced knowledge of the grid, the analysis highlights significant differences in the success probability and impact of attacks between these systems, providing insights into the varying responses of different power systems to MaDIoT attacks, and emphasising the need for system operators to consider these in their cybersecurity risk assessment in the future.

Spanish layman's summary:

Se analiza el impacto de ataques a dispositivos IoT de la demanda (MaDIoT) en los sistemas IEEE 39 y PST-16. Los ataques tienen un mayor ratio de éxito en IEEE 30 que en PST-16. Las consecuencias de los ataques difieren entre ambos sistemas. 

English layman's summary:

The impact of attacks on on-demand IoT devices (MaDIoT) on IEEE 39 and PST-16 systems is analysed. Attacks have a higher success rate in IEEE 30 than in PST-16. The consequences of the attacks differ between the two systems.

Keywords: Cyberattack; MaDIoT; Load altering attacks; Power system dynamics; Power system stability

Editors: J. Soldatos, H. Abie

ISBN: 978-3-032-25916-5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-25917-2_5

DOI of the book: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-25917-2

Published: 2026

Citation:
N. Rodríguez Pérez, J. Matanza, L. Sigrist, J.L. Rueda Torres, G. López, "Analysing the Impact of Compromising IoT Consumer Devices in Power Systems", in Technology-Enabled Resilience: Innovations in Critical Infrastructure Protection: From AI-based Situational Awareness to Workforce Upskilling: A Holistic Approach to Critical Infrastructure Protection, J. Soldatos, H. Abie Ed(s). Cham, Switzerland: Ed. Springer Nature BV, 2026, pp. 101-118, doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-25917-2_5

IIT-26-244L