Attacks against industrial control systems in wireless networks

The integration of wireless technologies into Industrial Control Systems (ICS) has transformed industrial automation, enabling greater flexibility, scalability, and remote monitoring capabilities. However, this convergence has also expanded the attack surface, exposing ICS to a broad and evolving range of cyber threats. This survey provides a comprehensive review of wireless-enabled attacks against ICS, with a focus on widely adopted protocols including WirelessHART, ISA100.11a, IO-Link Wireless, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and 5G. Using systematic threat types, we analyse protocol-level vulnerabilities, domain-specific impacts, and empirical evidence from real-world incidents and simulation studies. We further evaluate mitigation strategies, including physical (PHY) layer defences, AI-enhanced intrusion detection systems, and protocol-specific countermeasures. To assess the scope and maturity of current research, we introduce a structured evaluation framework spanning protocol diversity, empirical validation, domain coverage, and strategic insight. The survey also highlights emerging threats such as AI-driven spoofing and quantum-resilient cryptographic risks, while outlining a progressive research plan aimed at developing robust wireless ICS architectures.