Breach: New Computer Virus Can Cripple Power Plants With the Click of a Mouse

SHTF Plan ^ | 7/1/14 | Mac Slavo

[Kartographer]

Over 1,000 energy firms were infected with a sophisticated cyber weapon that gave hackers access to power plant control systems, it has been revealed.

…

The software allows operators to monitor energy consumption in real time – and to cripple physical systems such as wind turbines, gas pipelines and power plants at the click of a mouse.

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‘Among the targets of Dragonfly were energy grid operators, major electricity generation firms, petroleum pipeline operators, and energy industry industrial equipment providers,’ Symantec said.

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‘Dragonfly initially targeted defense and aviation companies in the US and Canada before shifting its focus mainly to US and European energy firms in early 2013.’

‘Dragonfly bears the hallmarks of a state-sponsored operation, displaying a high degree of technical capability.

Daily Mail via Steve Quayle

[Kartographer]

"We'll turn the lights off for you."

[Kartographer]

Preppers PING!!

[bicyclerepair]

Wish I knew of a location where your life didn’t depend on heat OR a/c. Hate both.

No a/c won’t kill you. But geez, it’s hard to sleep while wet. Have PV panels and batteries and 12v fans but still. Better than nothing though.

[bgill]

The only surprise is they admitted the breach.

[MUDDOG]

That’s quicker than Obama’s EPA rules.

[Psalm 73]

Yup - puttin' in a wood stove this fall - with two cook plates.
Then it's just a matter of fine-tunin' the preps....

[Telepathic Intruder]

Eventually we’re going to need a Battlestar Galactica solution. No networked computers in vital systems.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[b4its2late]

Ya gotta love the o man!

[Perdogg]

Didn’t this happen in Die Hard IV?

[factoryrat]

SCADA. Do the utilities still use carrier current communications between the power plants and the substations? It’s a question for any freepers who may work for in the electric power generation sector. I see some of the equipment installed at various substations, but I’m not sure that those systems are still in use. An outside control network, especially one that uses a public telcom network, would be a really, really bad idea. Controls for power generation and distribution really need to stay a closed system, with no access to the outside world.

[thackney]

I think many went from carrier signal to a dedicated fiber optic fiber buried in the transmission right of way.

[firebrand]

Just finished reading about this, page 1 of the Business section of today’s Times. It’s the Russians, says the Times, and so far they have been snooping at the technology but not blowing anything up.

[woodenickel]

This is Obama’s wet dream. Doing what the EPA can’t

[firebrand]

Not sure this is Dragonfly. Times calls it hackers, not a virus.

[IronJack]

I'm skeptical. I work for an electrical utility, and there is no way some sleaze-bag hacker got into our control system.

No way.

[PieterCasparzen]

Do the utilities still use carrier current communications between the power plants and the substations?

Look into generating power and selling your surplus back; then you'll get into the specs for substations.

I looked at this a while back just for dumb fun, yes, substations had a spec for a phone company connection, of course, while they want a communication link, it needed to be isolated, shielded, protected from shorts, etc.

I have the same problem with my cheepo computer monitor signal cable; when it lays next to the power cables, I get shadows on my monitor. Move the cable, shadows gone.

[firebrand]

Here's the link to the hacker of oil and gas companies story.

[IronJack]

I think many went from carrier signal to a dedicated fiber optic fiber buried in the transmission right of way.

Some did. Some did partially. And some have very little.

[catnipman]

“New Computer Virus Can Cripple Power Plants With the Click of a Mouse”

Totally false. I keep clicking my mouse and not a damn thing is happening: the lights are still on.