Water treatment plant hacked, chemical mix changed for tap supplies

[bananas]

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r30670508-Water-treatment-plant-hacked-chemical-mix-changed-for-tap-supplies

Water treatment plant hacked, chemical mix changed for tap supplies

Hackers infiltrated a water utility's control system and changed the levels of chemicals being used to treat tap water, we're told.

The cyber-attack is documented in this month's IT security breach report (available here, registration required) from Verizon Security Solutions. The utility in question is referred to using a pseudonym, Kemuri Water Company, and its location is not revealed.

A "hacktivist" group with ties to Syria compromised Kemuri Water Company's computers after exploiting unpatched web vulnerabilities in its internet-facing customer payment portal, it is reported.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/24/water_utility_hacked/

edit to add article dates, by request:
The DSL Reports article is dated 2016-Mar-30 9:02 am
The Register article is dated 24 Mar 2016 at 12:19
Don't know the date of the hack.

[JonathanRackham]

1. Cyber terrorism can lead to murder.

How will the candidates address this when one can't even comprehend server security?

[bemildred]

2. Hey let's put all our important stuff out there on the web,

where anybody that wants to can fuck with it. Thanks Silicon Valley, what a great idea. So convenient.

[watoos]

3. So was that plant hacked by Syria

or was it really the CIA? Elections are coming up you know?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cia-left-explosive-material-on-loudoun-school-bus-after-training-exercise/ar-BBrcmpJ?li=BBnb7Kz&OCID=HPDHP

[Thor_MN]

4. There is no "Cloud", it's just someone else's computer.

[Newkularblue]

5. But those voter registation systems

And vote tabulators... dont worry about those..

[Rybak187]

6. Here's my big question

Why are the systems that control the chemicals put in the water connected to outside networks in the first place?

[mopinko]

11. so the employees can be on call 24/7

[bemildred]

12. To save money. nt

[Chan790]

14. That's a really good question.

I cannot see any reason those computers should not be air-gapped.

[marble falls]

7. I just can't wait for computer driven cars! What possibly could go wrong?

[ToxMarz]

8. Because the human driven ones don't have any problems?

[marble falls]

9. But they don't all screw up all one time on command of an outside source.

[SCVDem]

10. Could we please start these stories

with a dateline?

I want to know WHERE right at the top!

Thank you.

[bananas]

13. I added them to the bottom, I usually put them right at the top. nt