Critical Infrastructure Security

Israeli cyber defenders warn of attacks on water supply

Israel’s National Cyber Array issued a notification that cyberattacks have been launched against a variety of water control critical infrastructure targets.

The Cyber Array report noted it was informed on April 23 that attacks had been launched on control and control systems of wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and sewers.  In response the agency is calling for organizations operating in these areas to take several immediate steps.

“The system calls on companies and entities in the energy and water sectors to immediately exchange passwords from the Internet to the control systems, reduce Internet connectivity and ensure that the most up-to-date version of controllers is installed,” the National Cyber Array said.

The National Cyber Array is part of the Israel National Cyber Directorate is responsible for all aspects of cyber defense in the civilian sphere, from formulating policy and building technological power to operational defense in cyberspace.

The United States suffered a similar attack in 2013. One year later seven men connected to the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard were indicted in the Southern District of New York for conducting a hacking campaign that included attacks on banks, with one man also charged with accessing the control system of a New York dam.

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