Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Researchers Found a Hacking Tool that Targets Energy Grids on the Dark Web (vice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the security-threats dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A sophisticated piece of government-made malware, designed to do reconnaissance on energy grid's system ahead of an eventual cyberattack on critical infrastructure, was found on a dark web hacking forum. SentinelOne's researchers believe the malware was created by a team of hackers working for a government, likely from eastern Europe, according to a report published on Tuesday. Udi Shamir, chief security officer at SentinelOne, said that it's normal to find reused code and malware on forums because "nobody tries to reinvent the wheel again and again and again." But in this case, "it was very surprising to see such a sophisticated sample" appear in hacking forums, he told Motherboard in a phone interview.

6 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. too many secrets by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    too many secrets

  2. Was it possibly .... by PPH · · Score: 2

    ... derived from Nitro Zeus? This is why one has to be careful about weapons proliferation. Even if you go in thinking that only the 'good guys' will get them.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  3. Re:Black Market Electrons by GuB-42 · · Score: 2

    Probably to power dark bulbs.

  4. Repeat after me.... by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    If a power control system or any other important infrastructure has it's SCADA system connected over the internet or even TO the internet....

    The people in charge of it are MORONS.

    There is ZERO reason to use the internet as your data systems for control interconnected. quit being cheap assholes and use private point to point. on an air gapped network.. And while you are at it HIRE COMPETENT ITSEC PEOPLE. Not Ex cops, those guys dont know shit about computer security...

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Repeat after me.... by cstdenis · · Score: 2

      But then the CEO can't look at pretty real-time graphics on his cell phone. Not going to happen.

      --
      1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual.
    2. Re:Repeat after me.... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 2

      They tried having two systems, the workers wouldn't use them correctly because it was too much of a pain in the ass for them. Then, the managers bitched because they had to use a separate system to view the production statistics. Nobody liked it and the IT department was forced to comply. Cheering was heard as the second air-gapped systems were eliminated and the executives celebrated the cost-cutting with a round of bonuses for virtuous behavior.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!