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Nuclear Power Plant Cyberattack: Critical Infrastructure at Risk

Posted: October 17, 2016 to News.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Compliance

[caption id="attachment_1439" align="alignleft" width="384"] Photo by Emmelie Callewaert, Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Since the Chernobyl incident, everyone has known the dangers of a malfunctioning nuclear power plant. With the rise of cyberattacks, experts have warned whoever would listen about potential vulnerabilities with nuke plants. It turns out that such worries were well founded. The International Atomic Energy Agency announced that a nuclear power plant has already been subject to a cyberattack. They wouldn't say which one it was, but we do know that it happened two or three years ago. The attack disrupted the plant and caused some problems, forcing the technicians to take some precautionary measures, but it did not cause the plant to shut down. Attacks, both cyber and conventional, are not a new or unknown thing when it comes to nuclear power plants. A Korean power company reported a hack two years ago, though data was the only victim in that attack; the nuclear power plant did not lose control of its systems, which the right malware in the right place could cause. A German power company reported finding viruses in the computers of a nuclear power plant as well, but again, it didn't appear to have infected the power plant's controls. The IAEA has been taking steps to help prevent cyberattacks and detect any stolen nuclear material since the beginning of this decade, having trained over 100,000 people in various aspects of nuclear security.

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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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