Russia hackers continuing to probe the U.S. power grid

Great Power War ^ | 11/29/18 | USA Features

[SleeperCatcher]

The U.S. power grid is continuing to be targeted and probed by Russian cyber actors, according to a notable cybersecurity firm, as well as other aspects of critical infrastructure (CI).

Researched from the threat intelligence firm FireEye said at the CyberwarCon forum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that even though the American power grid is relatively well-defended and tough to strike with a full-scale cyber attack, that hasn’t deterred Russian state actors from continuing to probe for weaknesses...

[yarddog]

I remember an article by William F. Buckley I think in the 1960s about how vulnerable our power grid was.

Maybe it is safer now but I doubt it.

[GOPJ]

Can we assume they’re preparing for war? Not full scale but well, things happen....

[DannyTN]

The power grid should be completely off grid. And hardened against a nuclear site.

Plus I think every city of 50,000 or more should prepare a site, where they could drop a mini-nuclear plant in place and power the city and surrounding area.

And we should have several mini-nuclear plants stored somewhere ready to deliver and power up anywhere in the mainland US after a disaster.

[Romulus]

I trust we are doing the same, esp. with China?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Maybe it is safer now but I doubt it.

With 100 million web enabled "smart meters" hooked up to it I highly doubt it.

[litehaus]

“The U.S. power grid is continuing to be targeted and probed by Russian cyber actors, according to a notable cybersecurity firm,”

A bunch of muzzys could use easily obtainable 308s to shoot out transformers from one end of the country to the other.
Timed properly that would be a ‘domino effect’ and cause larger ones to ‘collapse’/fail.
It is damn hard to replace those biggies—Spares are NOT around. Years to recover folks ..

[Myrddin]

The big 750KV transformers are 3 years ARO before shipping. Most require very special shipping via ship, rail and huge trucks. A .308 round top and bottom would empty the oil and burn a transformer very quickly. A solar EMP (Carrington style) would take out most northern tier transformers and we don't have a set of backups manufactured to replace them.

[litehaus]

“smart meters”

Those the things that Harbor Freight sells big magnets to run the meter slower? LOL.....

[sauropod]

Save this.

[sauropod]

Check Dhs press release from 7/23

[lightman]

“Smart homes” will make it easy.

Just hack the controls to set every house’s air conditioning to the lowest possible while running every oven at 500 degrees.

Do it on a day when power conservation has been urged and...

[lightman]

Ping

[Trumpisourlastchance]

I don’t believe what the Deep State tells me. That’s how we got into the current mess.

[Terry Mross]

Those cities of 50,000 wouldn’t be 50,000 for long.

[hadaclueonce]

750 kv?

I think you were thinking 750 MVA.

Just a guess

[hadaclueonce]

Only thing Smart about the Meters was how Oncor convinced the PUCT to have the ratepayers pay for the meters so they could fire all the meter readers.

Just saying, the fix was in.

[upchuck]

“Smart homes” will make it easy.

I used to say, "The only smart thing in my house is me." Now, thanks to some very dear friends, I don't say that anymore. But I don't have, or need, any smart gadgets.

The Telescreens from George Orwell's '1984' novel are a reality.

[familyop]

A solar power plant that can be switched off of the grid with a good transfer switch is a wise improvement. NIMBYs who speak evil gossip against wiser neighbors building such readiness are dung beetles.

[Myrddin]

No, I meant 750,000 volts on the transmission line. My brother-in-law installed many 750 kV lines at SDG&E before shifting to work for the transit district. The transformers used in that operation similar to the device here

315 mega volt ampere (MVA), 765 kilovolt (kV) generator step up transformer (GSU