Update, Dec. 1, 2011: False alarm! Well, at least in the Illinios water pump case. Read this Wired | Threat Level article for the real story. Still, no reason to let your guard down… This weekend, hackers made news for not only breaking into computer systems, but literally breaking a pump at a water plant in […]
Top 10: Most popular ecoINSITE posts of 2010
It’s that time. Before we welcome a brand new year, here are 2010’s most popular posts according to you! 1. Stats of the Day: BP Oil Spill Google Results Back in June, I ran a little experiment. In terms of Google search results, how did BP’s recent oil spill compare against the previous top environmental […]
Smart Energy: Stuxnet and the smart grid security opportunity
If you’ve been following IT security lately, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Stuxnet. The worm is currently sparking some cybersecurity drama with a sprinkling of geopolitical intrigue. (Iran thinks the presence of the worm in its nuclear plant is an assault from foreign powers.) What sets this episode apart is that the worm targets industrial control […]
Stuxnet attracts mainstream attention
Stuxnet is no stranger to folks interested in computer security, more specifically smart grid security. Long story short: this nasty little piece of malware is very targeted, affecting a suite of software called Siemens Simatic WinCC that manages control systems in industrial facilities and critical infrastructure like power plants. It’s flown under the radar, by […]
Stuxnet: Prelude to smart grid security threats
Have you heard of Stuxnet? Unless you run industrial or power control systems, the emergence of this nasty little piece of malware probably didn’t even cause the slightest blip on your radar. But that’s no reason to ignore it. Stuxnet targets Siemens Simatic WinCC, a Windows-based suite of software that’s used by industrial plants and […]