Smart-Grid Control Software Maker Hacked 96
tsu doh nimh writes "Telvent, a multinational company whose software and services are used to remotely administer and monitor large sections of the energy and gas industries, began warning customers last week that it is investigating a sophisticated hacker attack spanning its operations in the United States, Canada and Spain. Brian Krebs reports that the attacker(s) installed malicious software and stole project files related to one of Telvent's core offerings — OASyS SCADA — a product that helps energy firms mesh older IT assets with more advanced 'smart grid' technologies. A follow-up story from Wired.com got confirmation from Telvent, and includes speculation from experts that the 'project files' could be used to sabotage systems. 'Some project files contain the "recipe" for the operations of a customer, describing calculations and frequencies at which systems run or when they should be turned on or off. If you're going to do a sophisticated attack, you get the project file and study it and decide how you want to modify the pieces of the operation. Then you modify the project file and load it, and they're not running what they think they're running.'"
Obvious what this is. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Is anyone surprised? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Yep, better be the last nail in the coffin.. (Score:5, Funny)
I love my smart meter. My electric bill is half what it used to be.
Of course, that was after I installed my own software on it, but hey, fuck em they're a power company.
Re:Obvious what this is. (Score:4, Funny)
Inigo Montoya (Score:5, Funny)
...investigating a sophisticated hacker attack spanning its operations in the United States, Canada and Spain... and they're not running what they think they're running.
Sounds like they need a modern-day Inigo Montoya to do their security: <SPANISH ACCENT>"You keep using that software, I do not think you're running what you think you are running."</SPANISH ACCENT> And if the worst happens, he can exact revenge: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my power grid during a level 85 raid. Prepare to die."