Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 02:33:40 -0400
There are a number of claims or at least implications in the quoted section that disturbed me. My limited experience with power industry suggests that the problem is architectural and computational grabber than just communications speed.
Dave Begin forwarded message: From: Peter Swire <peter () peterswire net> Date: April 8, 2009 11:07:29 AM EDT To: "dave () farber net" <dave () farber net> Subject: RE: [IP] Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com Hi Dave:On cybersecurity for the electric grid, this morning, by coincidence, I released a relevant report through the Center for American Progress. Most of the report explains ways that the "smart grid" electricity part of the Recovery Act can be integrated better with the broadband part of the Act.
On cybersecurity, the report says:"the smart grid we are building needs better communications to keep itself "smart." Deployment of broadband at the regional level can help the electricity grid itself to work more effectively by using expanded access to information to operate more efficiently.One vital advantage is to use the new broadband for improved cybersecurity for the electric grid. Experts in critical infrastructure have emphasized the risk of cyberattacks on the electricity infrastructure, threatening to shut down power to entire geographic areas. The current, relatively weak communications infrastructure places limits on counter-measures against such attacks. With improved broadband for the grid itself, stronger encryption and other counter-measures can protect the grid from cyberattacks."
Also:"many older SCADA systems "cannot accommodate current enterprise security solutions that soak up central processing unit (CPU) capacity and clog connectivity." Id. Improved broadband, installed as part of the new electricity infrastructure, would thus directly contribute to upgrading the cybersecurity of the transmission system."
The report is called "Smart Grid, Smart Broadband, Smart Infrastructure: Melding Federal Stimulus Programs to Ensure More Bank for the Buck."
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/04/smart_infrastructure.html Peter Prof. Peter P. Swire C. William O'Neill Professor of Law Moritz College of Law of the Ohio State University Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress (240) 994.4142, www.peterswire.net -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:00 AM To: ip Subject: [IP] Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB123914805204099085-lMyQjAxMDI5MzA5ODEwNDg4Wj.html By SIOBHAN GORMAN Associated Press Robert Moran monitors an electric grid in Dallas. Such infrastructure grids across the country are vulnerable to cyberattacks. WASHINGTON -- 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. "The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," said a senior intelligence official. "So have the Russians." The espionage appeared pervasive across the U.S. and doesn't target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official. "There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official said, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year." <snip> ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
Current thread:
- Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com David Farber (Apr 08)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com David Farber (Apr 08)
- Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com David Farber (Apr 09)
- Re: Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com David Farber (Apr 09)