Philosophy
Russian hackers may have sabotaged a water pump in what’s being described as the first foreign cyber attack on US utility infrastructure, damaging both hardware and confidence in critical systems. The attack targeted a Springfield, Illinois water utility station on November 8, Reuters reports, using network credentials stolen from an industrial software developer; the pump was apparently remotely activated and burnt out, though redundant systems meant no impact was felt by residents of the town.
Nonetheless, the event is being taken seriously by the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, with the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI both involved in the investigation. Although still early, the teams involved insist there is no cause for ongoing concern, with DHS spokesperson Peter Boogaard arguing that ”there is no credible corroborated data that indicates a risk to critical infrastructure entities or a threat to public safety.”
Despite those reassurances, online security specialists are already drawing parallels between the Illinois attack and the Stuxnet virus that impacted Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010. Although never acknowledged by either government, many believe that particular viral strike – which sabotaged a centrifuge used in uranium enrichment – was controlled by the US and Israel.
“Over a period of two to three months, minor glitches had been observed in remote access to the water district’s SCADA [Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition] system” security expert Joe Weiss told The Register, having acquired a copy of the Illinois report detailing the water pump hack. The “glitches” escalated to the point where the pump was power-cycled until it burnt out; since multiple pumps are used at the facility, no interruption to the water supply was observed.
Evidence of further hacking has not been observed, though it’s unclear how many remote access credentials have been stolen by those responsible. It is reportedly usual for usernames and passwords to be hard-coded to SCADA hardware, which could make a broad security refresh more difficult than with traditional enterprise systems.
- The Corpses Are Piling Up--darioush Razaienejad
Such is espionage and politics and nuclear weapons. One begins to wonder. Is the United States or Israel involved? Did Iran do this to promote some pre-emptive strike against Israel? We may never know until PBS's Frontline gets involved. "Nuclear...
- Color-coded Terror Warnings
Japan is keeping theirs. "Color-coded terror warnings to be gone by April 27" by Eileen Sullivan January 26th, 2011 The Associated Press By the end of April, terror threats to the U.S. will no longer be described in shades of green, blue, yellow, orange...
- Stuxnet...long Distance Death
The goal: Make killing impersonal. "How Stuxnet cyber weapon targeted Iran nuclear plant" Researchers from California and Germany dove into the Stuxnet code and found it sought out specialized components used in Iran nuclear centrifuges – and could...
- The Sleeping Dragon...new Madrid Seismic Zone
Most of you probably never heard of it, being more informed and aware of California earthquakes. I am in the extreme Northwest section of the state of Missouri and such effects would be minor here but the biggest issue to face would be refugees. "Study...
- Lhc Security Breached
To the hackers: GET A LIFE! "Hackers Infiltrate Large Hadron Collider" by Brandon Keim September 14th, 2008 Wired The Large Hadron Collider has been hacked. "We're pulling your pants down because we don't want to see you running around naked...
Philosophy
Is this our new enemy...a faceless enemy?
"US utility sabotage blamed on Russian hackers"
by
Chris Davies
November 20th, 2011
SlashGear
by
Chris Davies
November 20th, 2011
SlashGear
Russian hackers may have sabotaged a water pump in what’s being described as the first foreign cyber attack on US utility infrastructure, damaging both hardware and confidence in critical systems. The attack targeted a Springfield, Illinois water utility station on November 8, Reuters reports, using network credentials stolen from an industrial software developer; the pump was apparently remotely activated and burnt out, though redundant systems meant no impact was felt by residents of the town.
Nonetheless, the event is being taken seriously by the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, with the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI both involved in the investigation. Although still early, the teams involved insist there is no cause for ongoing concern, with DHS spokesperson Peter Boogaard arguing that ”there is no credible corroborated data that indicates a risk to critical infrastructure entities or a threat to public safety.”
Despite those reassurances, online security specialists are already drawing parallels between the Illinois attack and the Stuxnet virus that impacted Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010. Although never acknowledged by either government, many believe that particular viral strike – which sabotaged a centrifuge used in uranium enrichment – was controlled by the US and Israel.
“Over a period of two to three months, minor glitches had been observed in remote access to the water district’s SCADA [Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition] system” security expert Joe Weiss told The Register, having acquired a copy of the Illinois report detailing the water pump hack. The “glitches” escalated to the point where the pump was power-cycled until it burnt out; since multiple pumps are used at the facility, no interruption to the water supply was observed.
Evidence of further hacking has not been observed, though it’s unclear how many remote access credentials have been stolen by those responsible. It is reportedly usual for usernames and passwords to be hard-coded to SCADA hardware, which could make a broad security refresh more difficult than with traditional enterprise systems.
- The Corpses Are Piling Up--darioush Razaienejad
Such is espionage and politics and nuclear weapons. One begins to wonder. Is the United States or Israel involved? Did Iran do this to promote some pre-emptive strike against Israel? We may never know until PBS's Frontline gets involved. "Nuclear...
- Color-coded Terror Warnings
Japan is keeping theirs. "Color-coded terror warnings to be gone by April 27" by Eileen Sullivan January 26th, 2011 The Associated Press By the end of April, terror threats to the U.S. will no longer be described in shades of green, blue, yellow, orange...
- Stuxnet...long Distance Death
The goal: Make killing impersonal. "How Stuxnet cyber weapon targeted Iran nuclear plant" Researchers from California and Germany dove into the Stuxnet code and found it sought out specialized components used in Iran nuclear centrifuges – and could...
- The Sleeping Dragon...new Madrid Seismic Zone
Most of you probably never heard of it, being more informed and aware of California earthquakes. I am in the extreme Northwest section of the state of Missouri and such effects would be minor here but the biggest issue to face would be refugees. "Study...
- Lhc Security Breached
To the hackers: GET A LIFE! "Hackers Infiltrate Large Hadron Collider" by Brandon Keim September 14th, 2008 Wired The Large Hadron Collider has been hacked. "We're pulling your pants down because we don't want to see you running around naked...