CIA: Hackers Shut Down Power To Entire Cities

The Telegraph ^ | 25/01/2008 | By Tom Leonard in New York

[hedgetrimmer]

Bad guys wouldn't necessarily have to hit us domestically to harm us.

This is goal of the "free traders". They have put America in a position where everyone else can hurt us because we are now 'interdependent' instead of independent. We have completely anihilated the legacy of our forefathers for cheap poisoned chinese crap and islamic tribal monarchies' oil.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I just watched “Live free or Die Hard” a fews days ago. I would hope that utilities have computer interfaces designed in such a way that allows a worker to simply walk into a station, physically pull the unit, and reroute control if all else fails. To think that a system is actually designed to make a take over possible from a remote location, without a series of countermeasures available, defies all sanity.

[varyouga]

The only possible safer way is to run cables and have every inch physically guarded at all times. This is not possible when you realize how much dedicated cable would be needed.

Those that really want to get in the network still can.

Even a 100% fully encrypted dedicated system can be unlocked with someone on the inside or social engineering. The hack in the article most likely happened because of an employee helping, not because of the internet.

[Southack]

South Africa

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

I believe you are correct. Wonder what we are doing on our part?

Not that I've ever been part of the tin-foil hat brigade... But what makes you think some of those instances weren't us? Given the way the Govt. works, particularly in tightly compartmented, highly secure programs... Someone might have performed a "live test" outside the country on a "representative system" briefly... Of course, you wouldn't advertise this activity, so the CIA might come across it and investigate some, not knowing it was really "us" ... A case of the "right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing" - on purpose. And yes, you'd try to make it look like a simple, possibly even botched, attempt at extortion to hide its true purpose - beta testing part of a capability.

[maine-iac7]

Yep

http://www.lehmans.com/

[advertising guy]

me too..shot them on sight

[HereInTheHeartland]

Hopefully not engines on 777’s

[trisham]

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.

*******************

Good advice.

[wtc911]

08/14/03

[trisham]

Thanks!

[I got the rope]

Why in the world would anyone give access to their DCS systems? Stupid.

[I got the rope]

Why in the world would anyone give access to their DCS systems? Stupid.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I would support the death penalty in these cases.

I would support the death penalty for spammers.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Machiavelli firmly advised that when times were good to prepare for bad. It’s the only advice of his that Clinton ignored.

Well said. But democracies generally need A LOT of bad news before they take action.

[mewzilla]

...a number of these systems still have components written in ...(gasp) FORTRAN.

Whoa. Thanks! :)

[xrmusn]

I think it was “L&O” that had one where the Power Co was cutting back and the local was also owned by a conglamerate that bought and sold power. The scheme was to crash the local plant, which would force the city to buy from the conglamerate and when the desired ‘profit’ was reached, click back to the origional...
Isn’t that what basically happened to Davis’ California when they froze the local rates?

[Karliner]

Well, then there’s always the Northern to Southern California aquaduct. I wonder sometimes how vulnerable it is, and millions in LA and other surrounding cities rely on that water. Imagine if the water supply was immediately contaminated or disrupted...electricity is one thing, without water in Los Angeles in a couple days at least the whole of the city would turn to anarchy. I hope there’s a plan there. Sorry for the scary thought.

[I see my hands]

"We live on the edge"

What you mean "we", grid man?

[maine-iac7]

:o) gridgramma - not happy about it = but at least in the forest, own well, own septic and wood stove...and privacy galore...it’s better than city/village life