Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies

Wall Street Journal ^ | April 8, 2009 | SIOBHAN GORMAN

[Snoopers-868th]

WASHINGTON -- Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, according to current and former national-security officials.

The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, these officials said, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls. The intruders haven't sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure, but officials warned they could try during a crisis or war.

[metmom]

Ping to post 12

[metmom]

From the article:

Last week, Senate Democrats introduced a proposal that would require all critical infrastructure companies to meet new cybersecurity standards and grant the president emergency powers over control of the grid systems and other infrastructure.

Sheesh. Every time I read the something like this, I feel more and more like I'm living in a Left Behind book.

[metmom]

You’ll be laughing last when you have water and nobody else does.

It’ll be a different story when everyone comes begging to you for water. Not so funny after all, is it?

[pleikumud]

We should be working on disruption of China’s and Russia’s electric grids. But of course the Demo-Socialists are too busy worrying about the global warming hoax.

Reminds me, what will be Hillary’s “sanctions” against North Korea? Cut off the free food we send the Communists? Doubt it. The Obama administration and Congress are Socialist, so they are birds of a feather with Communists. They are friends, and both enemies of capitalism and freedom.

[Calpernia]

http://blog.newyorkcitycommunity.us/2008/01/19/cia-says-hackers-have-cut-power-grid.aspx?view=threaded

I wonder if this is what happened when NYC lost their power?  I always found that story about the tree falling a bit unbelievable.

August 2003 - NYC Blackout

The whole of the city was dark and the setting sun painted one building.


CIA Says Hackers Have Cut Power Grid

Several cities outside the U.S. have sustained attacks on utility systems and extortion demands.

Criminals have been able to hack into computer systems via the Internet and cut power to several cities, a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency analyst said this week.

Speaking at a conference of security professionals on Wednesday, CIA analyst Tom Donahue disclosed the recently declassified attacks while offering few specifics on what actually went wrong.

Criminals have launched online attacks that disrupted power equipment in several regions outside of the U.S., he said, without identifying the countries affected.

The goal of the attacks was extortion, he said.

"We have information, from multiple regions outside the United States, of cyber intrusions into utilities, followed by extortion demands," he said in a statement posted to the Web on Friday by the conference's organizers, the SANS Institute.

"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."

"According to Mr. Donahue, the CIA actively and thoroughly considered the benefits and risks of making this information public, and came down on the side of disclosure," SANS said in the statement.

*snip*

He confirmed SANS' report of the talk. "There were apparently a couple of incidents where extortionists cut off power to several cities using some sort of attack on the power grid, and it does not appear to be a physical attack," he said.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2224558/posts?page=125#125

[agrace]

LOL, a much needed moment of levity in an unnerving thread. :)

[thackney]

I can’t imagine such systems would be hooked up to the Internet for any reason.

They are, for remote monitoring and the ability to adjust quickly to a changing situation such as an unplanned outage.

[teenyelliott]

No, no, none of it is funny. Any of us who prepare will be targeted if things go badly.

I read an article the other day in a Dallas newspaper about those people who are living like "normal people", yet are making preparations to survive if something happens. Several people would not give their names. They didn't want people to think they were doomsday kooks, and they didn't want people knocking down their doors when TSHTF, either.

[Hardastarboard]

The grandparents did as best they could

If my post sounded like I was in any way blaming the grand parents, that wasn't my intent. If it was offensive, I apologize. I was reciting the history of 0bama's childhood as I've heard it.

[ScottinVA]

Once again... over to you zer0! What say you?

[metmom]

I know it’s not funny at all.

You’re right about those being prepared being targeted.

But you’re safe telling us.....

[teenyelliott]

I don't feel safe talking about any of this.

I am afraid of my own government. How's that for tyranny.

Hopefully we will all look back on this in a few years, and be glad that we were wrong.

[MHGinTN]

Unless a focused wetworks effort is made, these sorts of extortions will only escalate as they succeed. And it makes no difference in what country these attacks originate, the wetwork must be carried out mercilously.

[MHGinTN]

M E R C I L E S S L Y

[Jewbacca]

Texas electrical system (ERCOT) is distinct from the rest of the USA.

Wonder if it is less vulnerable.

[Momaw Nadon]

I wonder how much it would cost to have one's own private electrical grid. It may require an acre or two for solar panels. Sure, it would cost more, but not being dependent on the public grid would be worth it.

[thackney]

Sure, it would cost more, but not being dependent on the public grid would be worth it.

You don't understand how much more it would cost.

[Momaw Nadon]

You don't understand how much more it would cost.

Do you have a $ figure in mind?

[Travis T. OJustice]

Typical residential application, to be 100% independent? Around $100,000-150,000, varying by region.