We'll see how insignificant it is when Russian hackers bring down a major electrical grid.
"A code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont utility, according to U.S. officials.
While the Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations of the utility, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss a security matter, the penetration of the nation’s electrical grid is significant because it represents a potentially serious vulnerability. Government and utility industry officials regularly monitor the nation’s electrical grid because it is highly computerized and any disruptions can have disastrous implications for the function of medical and emergency services.
American officials, including one senior administration official, said they are not yet sure what the intentions of the Russians might have been. The penetration may have been designed to disrupt the utility’s operations or as a test by the Russians to see whether they could penetrate a portion of the grid.
This week, officials from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence shared the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe with executives from 16 different sectors nationwide, including the financial, utility and transportation industries, a senior administration official said. Vermont utility officials identified the code within their operations and reported it to federal officials Friday, the official added.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ru...gh-a-utility-in-vermont/ar-BBxJYCe?li=BBnb7Kz