Report: Cybercriminals have penetrated U.S. electrical grid
Cyperspies from China, Russia and elsewhere have gained access to the U.S. electrical grid and installed malware tools that could be used to shut down service, according to a story published by The Wall Street Journal.
Thus far, the attackers haven’t used their access to damage the electrical grid, but the cyberespionage appears to be “pervasive,” the Journal reported, citing anonymous national security officials. Federal officials are worried that the cyberspies could use their access to try to shut down the grid or take control of power plants during a time of crisis or war, the story said.
Many of the intrusions, which for now appear to be aimed mostly at mapping the domestic power grid, were discovered not by electric utilities but by U.S. intelligence agencies, the story added.
See Report: Cybercriminals have penetrated U.S. electrical grid by Grant Gross, Computerworld.
Tags: cybercrime, cyberespionage, electrical grid, InfoSecurity, power grid, SCADA
