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Russia Can Hack the US Power Grid, Report Warns

Posted: June 12, 2017 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Cloud Security

We reported a few months ago that Russian hackers were able to shut down a Ukrainian power grid, leaving over 200,000 people without electricity. That malware, named CrashOverride, can be modified to attack the US power grid. Malware designed specifically to disrupt power is rare. CrashOverride is actually only the second such malware, the first being Stuxnet, which was a joint creation between the US and Israel to interfere with Iran's nuclear project. CrashOverride is troubling because it allows the hackers behind it to use a number of hacking tools that are built into it. As in the Ukrainian incident, hackers could take direct control of systems once the malware was in place. It can also be configured to go against a number of different utility control types. It's long been known that Russian hackers have been interested in disrupting American energy systems and other critical infrastructure. The attack on Ukraine could almost be considered a test. Though that attack has not been attributed to Russian by the US government, private cybersecurity firms feel pretty certain that it was. Two names have been associated with the Ukraine attack: Electrum and Sandworm. It's either a case of one group with two names or two groups that work closely together. Either way, they also targeted American industries in 2014. With a known threat looming, US utilities are on their toes trying to stay ahead of the game and up-to-date with their cybersecurity.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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