Hackers exploit holes to take control of U.S. infrastructure
‘Ubiquitous and indispensable’ computer chips an open door to attack
F. MICHAEL MALOOF
WND.com
July 13, 2014
WASHINGTON – With concern mounting over recent cyber attacks on critical national infrastructures and government agencies, experts are pointing to the high vulnerability of remote automated industrial control systems, known as SCADAs, according to a report from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
SCADAs, or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems, are computer-based systems that monitor and control industrial processes remotely, enabling the automatic functioning of the nation’s critical infrastructures. They monitor and regulate the national electrical grid system; the flow of oil and natural gas; nuclear power facilities; finance and banking systems; telecommunications; the pumping of fuel; food and water delivery; rail and truck transportation; and traffic lights.
But SCADAs provide a gateway for hackers from anywhere in the world, because they don’t have firewalls, and their passwords and other access-control systems can be evaded.
The Obama administration acknowledged Thursday that hackers stole Social Security numbers, health histories and other highly sensitive data from more than 21 million people. Believed to be the largest data breach in U.S. history, it follows the disclosure earlier this year that hackers stole records for about 4.2 million people from the Office of Personnel Management’s personnel database.
Officials have privately linked both intrusions to China, according to the National Journal.
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