The power blackout that struck the northern United States and Canada in August shocked industry executives into acknowledging the need to upgrade outdated grid circuitry and power-generating equipment. However, analysts and security experts now are warning that the outmoded, intrusion-prone computers used to control the grid pose a greater risk than the aging grid infrastructure. This old, patchwork system of computer networks makes an Internet attack that could shut down the power grid again mere child’s play, experts told TechNewsWorld.
It is interesting that the "experts" quoted in your article are both service providers, who appear to be using this as a marketing spring-board. The measures suggested are pretty basic, and most of the larger utilities already employ those and more. Somewhat of a sensationalist article.....
Loading ...
Network Vulnerability and the Electrical Grid
Posted by: Jack M. Germain October 30, 2003 04:21 AMThe power blackout that struck the northern United States and Canada in August shocked industry executives into acknowledging the need to upgrade outdated grid circuitry and power-generating equipment. However, analysts and security experts now are warning that the outmoded, intrusion-prone computers used to control the grid pose a greater risk than the aging grid infrastructure. This old, patchwork system of computer networks makes an Internet attack that could shut down the power grid again mere child’s play, experts told TechNewsWorld.