Monday 11 January 2016

‘High confidence’ Ukraine power outage was major cyberattack

Security experts are growing more certain that a Dec. 23 power outage in western Ukraine was a coordinated cyberattack, marking the first time hackers cut off electricity using digital tools.

News of the suspected cyberattack first trickled out late on Dec. 23, when the Ukrainian electricity provider Prykarpattyaoblenergo reported disruptions in and around the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. The hourslong power outage was widespread enough to get the attention of U.S. government analysts and grid security experts keeping a close eye on cyberthreats.

“We assess with high confidence, based on company statements, media reports, and first-hand analysis, that the incident was due to a coordinated intentional attack,” wrote Michael Assante, a grid expert at the SANS Institute, a top security training center based in Bethesda, Md., in a blog post Saturday.

“As a community, the power industry is dedicated to keeping the lights on,” he added. “What is now true is that a coordinated cyberattack consisting of multiple elements is one of the expected hazards they may face.” For the full article click here 



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