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Experts Hack Power Grid in Less Than a Day

Posted by samzenpus on from the quick-everyone-panic dept.

bednarz writes "Cracking a power company network and gaining access that could shut down the grid is simple, a security expert told an RSA audience, and he has done so in less than a day. Ira Winkler, a penetration-testing consultant, says he and a team of other experts took a day to set up attack tools they needed then launched their attack, which paired social engineering with corrupting browsers on a power company's desktops. By the end of a full day of the attack, they had taken over several machines at the unnamed power company, giving the team the ability to hack into the control network overseeing power production and distribution."

10 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I hate the term "Social Engineering" by causality · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's wrong with the good old fashioned "lying" or "scamming"? Fucking con-artists trying to sound legit. It's "social engineering" if you fell for it.
    --
    It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
  2. penetration-testing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do i get a job as a penetration tester? I wonder what that interview would be like?

    1. Re:penetration-testing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      If an applicant goes to an interview, then he cannot merit the job.

      In penetration testing, the successful applicant hires himself.

    2. Re:penetration-testing? by gnud · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wonder how that works as a pickup line.
      Hey Baby, have you been with an professional penetrator before?

  3. Pfft.. by dartarrow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Trinity did it in 3 minutes.

    In Leather

    --
    I love humanity, it is people I hate
  4. By the power of Grayskull... by Bob54321 · · Score: 4, Funny

    He better of said "I have the power!" when he finally had access to everything.

    --
    :(){ :|:& };:
  5. Best Job Ever by SmlFreshwaterBuffalo · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Trust me baby, I'm a professional. See? It says so right here on my card -- Penetration-Testing Consultant."

  6. Re:I'm Shocked! by Anpheus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wait, guys, I have a fix!

    *unplugs cat-5 from firewall between power control computer and local intranet*

    Wait, you were saying something about prevention and deterrence and I rudely interrupted. Please, carry on.

  7. So the Fuck What? by EdIII · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nobody would ever, ever, ever take down the power grid. Do you realize the implications of such an act? Screw 9/11 .... We are talking about PORN here. Hundreds of thousands of men that get off work everyday, all at different shifts, and have their pants around their ankles within 10 minutes of being home.

    You turn the power off, you take away the porn, the air conditioning for the cold beer, the TV to distract you from your bullshit. You force men to deal with that and I predict a couple hundred thousand men rabidly searching for whoever was responsible for THAT.

    Bin Laden has not been found yet, the idiot that takes out the power grid will be found in 30 minutes.....

  8. Re:I'm Shocked! by 6Yankee · · Score: 4, Funny

    How can he? He was posting from that power control box, you insensitive clod!