Who is Hacking into US Critical Infrastructures

Who is Hacking into US Critical Infrastructures

According to the New York Times, Mandiant, a U.S.-based cybersecurity firm, revealed that it was likely that China’s military personnel hacked into Telvent Canada, a firm known as Schneider Electric that makes switches and other gear for oil and gas pipelines. The Chinese military denies the allegations, stating they are “groundless both in facts and legal basis.”

Should the Chinese be to blame, experts say the snooping probably served two purposes:

  • To gather information to improve the Chinese critical infrastructure; and
  • To lay the groundwork for a future attack to shut down U.S. systems.

Headquartered in the outskirts of Shanghai is Unit 61398 of the People’s Liberation Army, where alleged cyber-attacks take place. According to American intelligence officials, they have tapped into this activity of the Chinese army for years. If this is true, then a high percentage of attacks on American corporations, organizations and governmental agencies originate here…in a white, 12-story tower of offices.

Officials at the Chinese embassy in Washington insisted that their government does not engage in computer hacking, and that such an activity is illegal. However, Mandiant has detected more than 140 intrusions since 2006.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also responded to these allegations. Hong Lei, a ministry spokesman, said, “Making unfounded accusations based on preliminary results is both irresponsible and unprofessional, and is not helpful for the resolution of the relevant problem. China resolutely opposes hacking actions and has established relevant laws and regulations and taken strict law enforcement measures to defend against online hacking activities.”

Obama administration officials have noted that they plan to inform China’s new leaders that the volume and sophistication of the attacks have become so intense that they threaten the fundamental relationship between Washington and Beijing.

It seems that America is in a digital war with China. “In the cold war, we were focused every day on the nuclear command centers around Moscow,” one senior defense official stated. “Today, it’s fair to say that we worry as much about the computer servers in Shanghai.”

Most industrial control systems in America are fairly well guarded, but according to Chief Executive of Digital Bond, Dale Peterson, “Once a hacker is in the system, there’s very few safeguards preventing the intruder from sending commands that could, say, cause an accident at a chemical plant or lead a pharmaceutical factory to dispense the wrong medications.” Both, of which, could obviously cause disastrous results.

The power grid is one of the most critical systems because without electricity everything – offices, factories, etc. – stop operating.

Mark McGranaghan, a power delivery and utilization specialist at the Electric Power Research Institute, stated, “It’s an issue at the top of the list of every utility executive.”

It’s difficult to accurately play the “blame game” when it comes to computer hacking, due to the sophisticated tactics of professional hackers. While people may be able to pinpoint and target the exact area in which the hacking originated, proving exactly who participated in the act of hacking itself is a bit more difficult.

Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/technology/chinas-army-is-seen-as-tied-to-hacking-against-us.html?pagewanted=all

http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/20/news/economy/hacking-infrastructure/index.html

Photo courtesey of KG News - http://kevingilmour.net

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • IoT Saves the Day

    IoT Saves the Day

    Today, creating a safe environment across schools, hotels, office buildings, housing complexes and other facilities has become a necessity. There are so many dangers lurking in buildings of all sizes and shapes from fire hazards, vaping issues, chemical/air quality issues, intruders and so much more. Read Now

  • Enhancing Situational Awareness

    Enhancing Situational Awareness

    In an era marked by technological advancements and increasing security concerns, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into video surveillance systems has revolutionized situational awareness and critical infrastructure protection. Read Now

  • Survey: Insider Threats Surge Across U.S. Critical Infrastructure

    Survey: Insider Threats Surge Across U.S. Critical Infrastructure

    Over three-quarters (77%) of organizations across US critical national infrastructure (CNI) have seen a rise in insider-driven cyber threats in the last three years, according to new research by leading cyber security services firm Bridewell. Read Now

  • The Impact of Strategic Technology Partnerships

    It may sound counterintuitive, but transparency is vital in the security industry. While many solutions block, divert and alert to imminent threats, at its core, security is rooted in the critical clarity between what the end-user needs and what the provider can offer Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • PDK IO Access Control Software

    PDK.IO Access Control Software

    ProdataKey now allows for "custom fields" within the interface of its pdk.io software. Custom fields increase PDK's solutions' overall functionality by allowing administrators to include a wide range of pertinent data associated with each user. 3

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3

  • Kangaroo Home Security System

    Kangaroo Home Security System

    Kangaroo is the affordable, easy-to-install home security system designed for anyone who wants an added layer of peace of mind and protection. It has several products, ranging from the fan-favorite Doorbell Camera + Chime, to the more comprehensive Front Door Security Kit with Professional Monitoring. Regardless of the level of desired security, Kangaroo’s designed to move with consumers - wherever that next chapter may be. Motion sensors, keypads and additional features can be part of the package to any Kangaroo system in place, anytime. Additionally, Kangaroo offers scalable protection plans with a variety of benefits ranging from 24/7 professional monitoring to expanded cloud storage, coverage for damage and theft. 3