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Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com

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Saved by 23 people (0 private), first by anonymouse user on 2009-04-08


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Highlighted by chrisblessing1

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.

Highlighted by keulenae

left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system,

Highlighted by superfeminista

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.

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were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls

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China, Russia and other countries

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but officials warned they could try during a crisis or war.

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any of the intrusions were detected not by the companies in charge of the infrastructure but by U.S. intelligence agencies, officials said. Intelligence officials worry about cyber attackers taking control of electrical facilities, a nuclear power plant or financial networks via the Internet.

Authorities investigating the intrusions have found software tools left behind that could be used to destroy infrastructure components, the senior intelligence official said. He added, "If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on."

Highlighted by ignitesrini

"If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on."

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Officials said water, sewage and other infrastructure systems also were at risk.

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Officials cautioned that the motivation of the cyberspies wasn't well understood, and they don't see an immediate danger.

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Under the Bush administration, Congress approved $17 billion in secret funds to protect government networks, according to people familiar with the budget.

Highlighted by nmittal

Congress approved $17 billion in secret funds to protect government networks

Highlighted by rdatta

A senior Pentagon official said Tuesday the Pentagon has spent $100 million in the past six months repairing cyber damage.

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The Obama administration is weighing whether to expand the program to address vulnerabilities in private computer networks, which would cost billions of dollars more. A senior Pentagon official said Tuesday the Pentagon has spent $100 million in the past six months repairing cyber damage.

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Pentagon has spent $100 million in the past six months repairing cyber damage

Highlighted by rdatta

Overseas examples show the potential havoc. In 2000, a disgruntled employee rigged a computerized control system at a water-treatment plant in Australia, releasing more than 200,000 gallons of sewage into parks, rivers and the grounds of a Hyatt hotel.

Last year, a senior Central Intelligence Agency official, Tom Donahue, told a meeting of utility company representatives in New Orleans that a cyberattack had taken out power equipment in multiple regions outside the U.S. The outage was followed with extortion demands, he said.

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Overseas examples show the potential havoc.

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releasing more than 200,000 gallons of sewage into parks,

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The U.S. electrical grid comprises three separate electric networks, covering the East, the West and Texas.

Highlighted by nmittal

East, the West and Texas.

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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.

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on 2009-04-08 by TransTracker

Wait a second...back up a second! The fact that the President's party in the Senate is trying to pass legislation that would give the President emergency control over all critical infrastructure is burried in the middle of the article?!? I would think that is worth an article all its own! I've wondered why cyberwar and cybersecurity have suddenly become such big issues again with the election of Obama. I don't want to sound conspiratorial, but could this be it?

on 2009-04-08 by jplumey

I don't think you're too far off the mark. This administration has sought to control more of the government than any other in U.S. history. Banking, healthcare, utilities, industries...it's a scary trend.

on 2009-04-09 by cselland

great point(s)

The White House review of cybersecurity programs is studying ways to shield the electrical grid from such attacks, said James Lewis, who directed a study for the Center for Strategic and International Studies and has met with White House reviewers.

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