Skip to main content

Cyber attack targets Illinois water station, damages water pump

water plant shutterstock
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A hacker or group of hackers managed to infiltrate the network of a water station in Springfield, Illinois, and caused damage to a water pump, reports the Washington Post. The attack appears to be the first time a cyber attack has caused this kind of damage to a computer system in the US.

Recommended Videos

The attack was first discovered on Nov. 8, when a municipal water district employee discovered a problem with the city’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA). As Wired reports, the system repeatedly turned on and off, which caused the water pump to burnout. A technician later discovered that its system had been infiltrated, possibly as early as September.

The attack appears to have been launched from an IP address located in Russia, though it’s possible that the hacker or hackers who waged the attack are physically located elsewhere, and simply waged a proxy attack to make it appear as though Russia was the base of operations.

Access to the water plant’s system was done by hacking into the network of the software vendor that makes the SCADA system. Usernames and passwords for the water utility were stolen, and used to access the utility’s system remotely. It is possible that other SCADA systems are at risk of intrusion, or may have already been breeched.

“It is unknown, at this time, the number of SCADA usernames and passwords acquired from the software company’s database and if any additional SCADA systems have been attacked as a result of this theft,” according to a report of the incident obtained by Joe Weiss of Applied Control Solutions. Weiss read this portion of the report to Wired.

So far, the name of the software company that was hacked has not been released, but we do know that it is a vendor in the US. According to Weiss, the company that was hacked could have access to user login information, not only for utility companies, but also for the systems that control US nuclear weapons.

Officially, the Department of Homeland Security is keeping its lips tight on the matter. They have so far refused to say that the burnout of the water pump was a direct cause of the hack. And they say there is not yet any reason to be worried about more destructive consequences resulting from the breech.

“DHS and the FBI are gathering facts surrounding the report of a water pump failure in Springfield, Illinois,” said DHS spokesman Peter Boogaard in a statement. “At this time there is no credible corroborated data that indicates a risk to critical infrastructure entities or a threat to public safety.”

The breech of this SCADA system is the first time an industrial control system has been infiltrated in the US. The most direct comparison is the breech of a uranium enrichment plant in Iran that was carried out through the use of the infamous Stuxnet worm.

[Image via Andrey Kekyalyaynen/Shutterstock]

Andrew Couts
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
Don’t miss this chance to buy a MacBook Air at $200 off
The MacBook Air on a table in front of a window.

For those who have always wanted to get one of Apple's MacBooks but can't stomach the price tag, here's your chance to buy one for a relatively affordable price. Best Buy has slashed the price of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air M3 to only $699, for savings of $200 on its sticker price of $899. You need to act fast though, as there's always high demand for MacBook deals. The stocks that are up for sale may already be gone as soon as tomorrow.

Why you should buy the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air M3

Read more
This HP Chromebook is under half-price today — just $190
The HP Chromebook 14 laptop on a white background.

You should turn your attention towards Chromebook deals if you want to buy a new laptop on a tight budget, and we've found an offer that you won't want to miss. From its original price of $410, the HP Chromebook 14 is down to just $190 for savings of $220 from Walmart. You won't always have the chance to get this device for less than half-price though -- in fact, the opportunity may be gone as soon as tomorrow. If you want to take advantage of the discount, you need to buy the Chromebook right now.

Why you should buy the HP Chromebook 14

Read more
Avast’s most complete antivirus plan is 70% off right now
Couple making selfie inside car with open window.

Avast has been popping off with incredible deals this month. The antivirus company recently offered 70% off its Premium tier of virus protection. For the next 30 days, Avast is extending that offer to its Ultimate tier of protection. That means you can protect one device with Avast Ultimate for $33 for a year, down from its usual $110. If you want to cover 10 devices, you'll only pay $42 instead of $140.

Let's dive into what Avast Ultimate offers and why you might want it over the free tier or the Premium plan. This deal is live now, and will stick around for the next four weeks.

Read more