Vulnerable US power companies networks
The technology that allows utilities to run their operations is more vulnerable now than ever before. Because those networks are becoming increasingly standardized and linked to other centralized systems, they can be more easily breached and the resulting disturbances can be enormous.
The spotlight is on control systems, which can be used to manage and run the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power. Basically, that hardware and software collects operational data from the field before processing and displaying it. That information is then relayed to local or remote equipment.
"Over the past few years, US federal agencies have initiated efforts to improve the security of critical infrastructure control systems," says Greg Wilshusen, director of information systems for the Government Accountability Office. "However, there is as yet no overall strategy to coordinate the various activities across federal agencies and the private sector. Further, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lacks processes needed to address specific weaknesses in sharing information on control system vulnerabilities."
Consider the Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama: In August 2006, two recirculation pumps at Unit 3 tripped and forced the unit to be manually shut down. The loss of the pumps was then traced to excessive traffic on the control systems, possibly caused by the failure of another device. Therein illustrates the agency's point, which is networks are more susceptible to attack - whether intentional or not - as they become increasingly interwoven through the Internet.
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