suxnet-worm-nuclear-power-plant-risk

Cyber Terrorism – Nuclear Power Plants – Grid

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suxnet-worm-nuclear-power-plant-risk

The recent discovery of the “Stuxnet” computer worm cyber-weapon, apparently designed and used to infect Iran’s nuclear development control systems, presents a very powerful and dangerous new threat to our current way of life.

Stuxnet, first discovered during June 2010 is the first worm of its kind to take aim at the foundation of critical industrial systems.

It was uniquely written to spy on, reprogram, and attack the systems used to control and monitor industrial processes, while at the same time hiding the changes it makes.

The bulk of the media reporting on Stuxnet has been focused on its apparent design to target Iranian nuclear control systems because it contains specific code to hack the underlying “Siemens” hardware and software used within the Iranian systems. Although this particular targeting may be true, the Siemens systems are used far and wide to manage other types of industrial facilities including water supplies, oil rigs, and power plants in many parts of the world.

Now that Stuxnet is out in the open, the door is wide open for much wider spread and disastrous possibilities, given the will to do harm. It could conceivably be used as a blueprint, and tailored or modeled to inflict a extreme catastrophe.

cyber-terrorism-threatens-power-grid

Think of this… a modified Stuxnet worm is introduced into the network of an operational nuclear power plant, where it silently reprograms the control systems of the nuclear reactor and waits until a pre-determined time to enact its devastating plan, a nuclear meltdown.

Imagine the same worm being inserted or replicated in multiple nuclear reactor networks, all executing their devastating code at the same time, creating not only a nuclear meltdown emergency of epic proportions, but quite possibly bringing the entire electrical power grid system down from cascading tripping circuit breakers as the instantaneous demand for re-routed power is not met.

To consider such possibility is not alarmist. Instead it is a responsible process to think, speak openly, and to consider the vast network of control systems that underlie our dependence on infrastructure, and to plan ahead for a cyber-weapon similar to Stuxnet that could conceivably bring it all down and change our lives in ways that we cannot imagine.

While industries scramble to cope with this new threat, it would serve us all well to consider our own survival plans in this rapidly changing world of uncertain times.



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2 Comments

  1. The US nuclear plants are the last place that will be threatened by Stuxnet or something similar.

    These plants were built in the 60’s and early 70’s, when digital controls did not exist. And their control systems have not been updated to use digital controls. Example, the ECCS systems use relays, not PLCs or DCS.

    The fossil (Coal, Gas, Combustion Turbines) Hydro and wind units are built or have been updated with PLC and DCS controls, mostly for efficiency and to meet EPA regs. More efficient combustion means less pollution.

    They may have been vulnerable, except the utility industry is busy implementing cyber security protocols required by NERC.

    1. That is great news regarding nuclear plants, at least in the US, apparently not having current technology that employs PLCs or digital systems. I am actually surprised to hear that, figuring there would have been upgrades and efficiency improvements over time. I wonder about the various power grid stations and their system controls, etc… No doubt that the utility companies are putting a high priority on this, given what has just happened.

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