- Cyber hackers linked to Iran shut down a UK power plant for four days.
The incident, which occurred in July, involved an unidentified small energy generator, according to The Telegraph.
Hackers unlikely had civilian harm in mind when targeting the power plant, though it is reportedly the first time Iran-linked crooks knocked one offline.
The National Cyber Security Centre, part of the spy agency GCHQ which investigates attacks on infrastructure, declined to comment as it does not routinely acknowledge individual incidents.
The power grid was never at risk and the incident had no impact on energy production, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero told Metro.
Many small-scale generators only run for a few hours a week to top up the grid, such as when there’s not enough wind to keep turbines spinning.
Department officials briefed energy bosses and wrote to companies with advice, direction and next steps following the shutdown.
Security experts have long warned that a cyber attack by a foreign country during a time of war isn’t just the stuff of cheap Hollywood films.
Fears of Iranian-linked cyber attacks have been high since the US and Israel launched a deadly attack on Iran in February, igniting a war.
Factories are easy targets for cyber attacks, Steffan Roxrud Thorvaldse, CEO of Qbee, a device management platform, told Metro.
‘Modern factories now operate as “smart” environments where everything is connected, from sensors and cameras to robotics and control systems,’ he said.
US Water systems in several states have been hit this year. Many of those attacks are also associated with hacks and ransomware.
And then we have a big warning on the US Energy Grid. Officials saying it only takes 9 substation failures to cripple the Entire grid!
When the grid goes down, you BETTER BE READY!
#breakingnews #breaking #news
Learn More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/iran-linked-hackers-shut-down-uk-power-plant/ar-AA2aKrUs
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