CIA Claims Cyber Attackers Blacked Out Cities

Dotnaught writes to tell us InformationWeek is reporting that the CIA admitted today that recent power outages in multiple cities outside the United States are the result of cyberattacks. "We have information, from multiple regions outside the United States, of cyber intrusions into utilities, followed by extortion demands. We suspect, but cannot confirm, that some of these attackers had the benefit of inside knowledge. We have information that cyberattacks have been used to disrupt power equipment in several regions outside the United States. In at least one case, the disruption caused a power outage affecting multiple cities. We do not know who executed these attacks or why, but all involved intrusions through the Internet."

Comments

Die Hard 4.0

[slyn]

Is there really any excuse of convenience that justifies connecting the nations major utilities to the internet?

At least if there is a firesale Justin Long and Bruce Willis will be there to save us. Coincidence that Mac Guy would be the one to save us? I think not.

We don't have TIME!!!

[Duncan Blackthorne]

Quick, somebody call Jack Bauer, he'll know what to do!

Re:We don't have TIME!!!

[Psychotria]

You are correct. He will capture the nasty people, torture them and make them confess under duress... err wait

Pfffft

[Tablizer]

That's ridiculous. Power and services don't just suddenly cu

Re:Pfffft

[jamesh]

That's ridiculous. Power and services don't just suddenly cu

At least when they do cut out, the residual power left in the system enables you to submit your incomplete slashdot message posting. What an age to be alive!

Re:Why are systems like this hooked onto the inter

[Psychotria]

You're absolutely correct. Remote administration is the way to go. Until the power goes out, in which case it's a holiday for the workers.

Re:Just in time...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's probably terrorists.

Or worse, Ron Paul supporters.

willful negligence vs gross negligence

[SgtChaireBourne]

You're right. Putting any kind of control system for critical public utilities on the internet is gross negligence.

And if MS Windows is involved, then it escalates to willful negligence.

Re:BS

[deimtee]

Winston Smith has now never existed.
Thinking of unpersons is doubleplusungood.

UPS

[Anonymous Coward]

Haven't these people heard of uninterruptible power supplies?

Re:Where and When?

[jandoedel]

In Soviet Russia, Power never goes out. It stays in the Kremlin.

Re:errrr

[jonaskoelker]

It's when Chuck Norris sets his foot ablaze with mere willpower, then does a roundhouse kick.

Re:15% solution

[Anonymous Coward]

The, fixed it for you. Oh the irony.

There, fixed it for you. Oh the irony.

irony++

Re:TFA is leaving out the most important informati

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, the naming of the cities is really interesting;

Since I was at the SANS Scada conference in NewOrleans and heard the Analyst's presentation.
He did not give out any information on what cities were hit, hell even what continent they were on.

When asked a question about verifying the data he replied ...

      " What ? don't you trust the CIA ? "

What really happened:

[merc]

The cyber-attacks were the result of cyber-intrusions conducted by cyber-hacker cyber-criminals intent on causing cyber-damage. When caught they will be elligable for cyber-representation by cyber-lawyers for cyber-prosecution. Unfortunately said attorneys will be unable to practice cyberlaw due to the cyber-trademark registered by cyber-lawyer Eric Menhart.

Cyber-lame.