Federal cyber roles debated

Federal Drive

Federal cyber roles debated

New threat: Hackers look to take over power plants

Federal News Network Staff

August 4, 2010 8:30 am

2 min read

Cybersecurity Update – Tune in weekdays at 30 minutes past the hour for the latest cybersecurity news on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris (6-10 a.m.) and the DorobekINSIDER with Chris Dorobek (3-7 p.m.). NextGov reports.

It’s another way that cyber baddies would like to make life miserable for people – and this way involves more than just spam or spyware. U.S. officials say computer hackers have been targeting power plants and other critical infrastructure around the world – in an effort to seize control of such key facilities. The experts say they have run across computer code specifically designed to take over the systems that control the inner workings of industrial plants. As much as 85 percent of the nation’s critical infrastructure – like nuclear and electric power plants as well as transportation systems – is owned and run by private firms. The Department of Homeland Security is creating new specialized teams to confront the threat.

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