Re: Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies - WSJ.com

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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>



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