Posted on 01/26/2008 4:37:22 AM PST by Fennie
Computer hackers have managed to shut down power to entire cities by breaking into the systems of electricity companies and then demanding money, a senior CIA analyst has claimed.
Tom Donahue told a utilities security conference in New Orleans that all the successful hackings occurred outside America.
He did not specify what countries were affected, when the power cuts happened or how long they lasted.
Mr Donahue, who was speaking at the Process Control Security Summit, later said in a statement: "We have information, from multiple regions outside the United States, of cyber intrusions into utilities, followed by extortion demands."
He said the CIA suspected some of the cyber-attackers "had the benefit of inside knowledge."
He added: "In at least one case, the disruption caused a power outage affecting multiple cities. We do not know who executed these attacks or why, but all involved intrusions through the Internet."
A CIA spokesman declined to provide additional details, saying: "The information that could be shared in a public setting was shared. These comments were simply designed to highlight to the audience the challenges posed by potential cyber intrusions."
The Bush administration is increasingly worried about the little-understood risks from hackers to the specialised electronic equipment that operates power, water and chemical plants, known as Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. These are increasingly connected to the Internet.
Hackers first launched such a pattern of cyber attacks followed by subsequent blackmail attempts against the online gambling industry six or seven years ago...
You make good points.
Sounds like the work of Russian mafia.
John
I’ve wondered for some time why the computer systems that run power companies are accessible from online anyway. Aren’t there people there anyway? Call them up if something has to change.
And if they are unmanned stations, drive over and turn the switch or whatever.
“Guest” workers are your friends.
Summary execution of hackers is one solution!
(not necessarily a good or desirable one, but it would make me say “serves ‘em right”)
CIA discloses cyber attacks caused multiple city power outages
From the link...
FACT: Hackers have successfully penetrated and extorted multiple utility companies that use SCADA systems in the last 24 months.
SCADA systems?
Cheers!
ping
The power grid is fairly robust and power can be rerouted from distant plants. However, weird things can happen to the grid like in the NE blackout.
That said, you can have backups in your home for not too much money. There are generators that can run on your home's gas line and switch to diesel/gasoline if that goes down.
The internet is the fastest and cheapest way to transfer data to pretty much anywhere so power companies use it to monitor and control some systems. Many substations and very small plants are actually remote controlled. It is very secure but nothing is 100% foolproof.
Even if they ran their own cables completely separate from the internet, the cables could still be cut at some point and intercepted. There is just no 100% secure way to transfer data in real time that fast.
The internet is the fastest and cheapest way to transfer data to pretty much anywhere so power companies use it to monitor and control some systems. Many substations and very small plants are actually remote controlled. It is very secure but nothing is 100% foolproof.
Even if they ran their own cables completely separate from the internet, the cables could still be cut at some point and intercepted. There is just no 100% secure way to transfer data in real time that fast.
That’s a great idea. Lehman’s Catalog?
****************
Ours was a gradual change after 9/11. We have two little streams that move through our property, so I guess we could boil water, if it came to that. You were smart to find a place with a pond.
Which always reminds me of a quote from one of the best movies ever made: "We have a pool and a pond. The pond would be good for you". :)
GMTA!
I recommend investing in precious metals such as Gold, Silver, Steel and Lead.
A small sum of gold and silver will do wonders in the barter department. Steel and lead in the shape of a hand gun will do wonders to protect that investment.
.....Bob
Cheers!
“It is very secure”
No such thing if billions of people have access to the network.
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