CyberAttack underway against the US
 

Alert from the Government CISA:

The Department of Energy (DOE), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are releasing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to warn that certain advanced persistent threat (APT) actors have exhibited the capability to gain full system access to multiple industrial control system (ICS)/supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) devices, including:

Schneider Electric programmable logic controllers (PLCs),
OMRON Sysmac NEX PLCs, and
Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) servers

Here is the entire alert: It has not yet been determined WHO is responsible for this, but the "general assumption" is it is Russia. If this in fact is happening, it is an act of war against the US.

APT Cyber Tools Targeting ICS/SCADA Devices | CISA

Oh well. And life keeps on trucking. No one is going to anything about it, either way.

Just let me know the day when there's NOT and attempted cyber attack...

April 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th. - so far this month. Sorry couldn't resist, since you love to hold me to account for "exaggerations".

If you read this alert, and all the others at CISA.gov, you will see this is particularly worrisome in the current world situation since it has been tested on a number of companies and they have reason to believe that others are being targeted.

The real significance is that if we end up at war with Russia, they have been running trails of their cyber warfare groups - attacking companies around the world, including the US. We are late to the game, but are ramping up our defense - part of CISA.

This was particularly interesting to me, since when I was working for APS (power company in AZ) I was a project manger in charge of the project to install redundant communications and controls for the companies sub-stations, which was mandated by Congress for all power companies following 9/11. We finished that project on time, but that was just one small part of the weakness. I know first hand how poorly prepared our power grid is to deal with a cyber attack.

It's sad that you actually think that's true...

the Chinese and Russians have been trying to hack into anything and everything in the USA every day for quite a while....

they don't really produce anything else...it's what they do

Think what is true? I covered several things, you think NONE of what I said is true?

Exactly true, for decades literally. But, again if you read this alert, this is a new attack using new code that we are not yet prepared to deal with.

There are the people who understand a threat when there is one, and then there are the people who are oblivious, and like it that way. I think it is meritorious of you to try to do a public service announcement to give heads up to the people who give credence to the threat but who had not been aware of it.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling.

That no one tried to hack anything on those specific days...

Except on the following days, right? "April 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th. - so far this month. "

paul revere would agree

Good news. The United States has comparable offensive and defensive cyber capabilities.

Chromebooks can't get a virus and update automatically.
I also converted a 10 Y/O Dell laptop to Linux Mint and I don't worry about getting hacked.

Thanks for telling us however this has been going on since computers were invented.
 

Cyber attacks? This has been going on since computers were invented. Thanks anyway

Why not? Our president gave them a list. Another one of his brilliant moves and he was soooo proud of it!! You can't make this stuff up!!:ohdear:

How long
 

So how long will those be working for you without electricity to charge the batteries?

This is not new news. These hackers have been trying for years.

Careful, your going to get spanked from the mods making this political, but I do agree with you.

If hackers can mess with the power grid, they certainly can mess with your bullet proof computer. LOL

Okay, I confess, that was a bit tongue in cheek. As I am sure you know those are the days with no alert.

There will be no war. We will use our "global partners" to make it look like we are getting tough and taking action.
Happy Easter Everyone!

The Chromebook is the safest personal "computer", but still has 55 vulnerabilities.

However, the alert has NOTHING to do with personal computers. It is about companies with process control computers, power generation plants etc. The intent of the attack is/would be to shut down our infrastructure - imagine if the water supply shut down for a week, etc.

Well, I posted the alert as a public service, since I doubt many here keep up with CISA and cyber warfare. I am amazed that even here, people feel the need to be snarky, attack, etc.

I am still hopeful we can avoid war with Russia, but, if war comes a key component will be cyberwar. And we have NEVER fought a cyberwar before. Putin has demonstrated he is not opposed to inflicting civilian casualties to gain his goals.

The information is available. I am not saying it is going to happen, simply making people aware.

Unfortunately there's very little any of us can do about it, since our state has not been pro-active in supporting alternate methods of energy and self-reliance. All those dialysis offices that provide life-saving service to kidney patients - rely on the grid to keep their machines running. No grid, no life.

Meanwhile, in communities that emphasize alternative energy sources, they are able to sustain themselves for a week or more, if the power were to be cut off from the outside.

most of the people on this thread can't be bothered to be informed unless it causes them some inconvience.

One big way, not the only way, to help yourself from a personal cyber attack is NEVER, EVER click on links that are sent or embedded in emails, texts and chat rooms like this... unless you know this person. You can always Google the subject. I even noticed in a forum that someone stating they had pics they took and wanted to share- said, “Here click on this link!” - I thought, Oh my, don’t!

Yes funny - LOLOLOL.

Glad you got a chuckle. I guess you didn't bother to read the alert. It has NOTHING to do with hacking YOUR computer. The ONLY reason a foreign national would attack your computer would be to add it to a bot farm for a DOS or other attacks on more important targets. In fact, if you run windows there is a good chance your c computer has already been owned and is simply waiting to be put into action.

The alert is by our CISA and it says they are seeing a new custom code being tested against companies that are critical to our infrastructure - manufacturing, electrical grid, hospitals, etc, etc, etc.

The alert is for THOSE industries, to let them know to take steps to verify they are not infected and to take steps to guard against becoming infected.

As I said, we are on the verge of going to war with Russia, unless things change soon. And this alert shows that Russia (and others) are preparing to launch a cyber ware against us. There has never been a full scale cyber war - ever. We have no idea what the results will be. I hope we are prepared.

But, one thing I am fairly certain of, is a cyber war will not be funny.

Absolutely. That is even more important today, and with this alert. Since one of the tactics in a cyberwar, is to infect millions of personal computers silently. Place the virus and leave it dormant. Then when war is launched, the dormant virus is activated and your computer becomes an agent of the enemy.

So, you could say, it is every American's patriotic duty to practice safe computer usage - as you say, NEVER click on a link from anyone, even if it is from friends or family. Type the address of the link into your browser instead. Also, you should never open (read) emails from suspicious sources "From: wally_in_etheopia@myplace.com" or "Subject: You won a billion dollars". Hacking today is capable of planting a virus in your computer as a result of your simply reading a post or looking at a photo. And those emails from your children, might not be from your children (it is called spoofing, which means changing the From address to look like someone else) or it might be from your children but they might be infected.

Think of opening emails like having unprotected sex with a complete stranger that appears to be strung out on heroin...

Not just our state, but I agree with your point in general. The US has been very slow in preparing for cyberwar. CISA is our attempt to change that. But it will take time. This alert is NOT for the average Joe sitting at home in front of his computers, it is for companies and industry - a warning of a new variant that they need to take action to protect against. It is real, it is not a "might happen".

When I was working for APS, they were facing a large fine if they missed the deadline for getting the safe guards in place. Sadly, in the US profit rules everything - it is more important than human life or safety. So, for the most part, the only way to get them to spend anything to protect our infrastructure is for the government to force it by imposing fines.

Me. . .

Oddly. . .

Feeling nostalgia for Covid — in comparison to this.

Yep.

Why?

When Covid, and all it entailed, was raging in our faces every day, at least we had some measure of control over how we chose to handle the threat in our personal lives.

Now, as individuals — we got nuthin’.

My heart breaks for the people of Ukraine. My mind, if I let it, most certainly could wander to the potential spread of hell on earth.

But……..

all I can do is limit my own news exposure to a quick check-in each day and then go ahead with regular, everyday life……but now with greater appreciation of even the most mundane.

We are all well aware of the obvious threats to our world — our cyberworld included. But obsessing about it cannot help and could lead some to wallowing in paranoia.

I was instructed many years ago to hide under my desk at school, “Duck and Cover.” I wanted to ask my teacher how that was supposed to help, but in those days, I would never have dared to question my teacher. (Now, I realize she had to be thinking the same thing.)

Now, I have decided not to saturate my elder-boomer days “ducking and covering” because there is absolutely nothing we can do about this one. Therefore, looking at Covid in juxtaposition makes me nostalgic for only worrying about Covid — a worry over which we were offered some control. This one though…….we got nuthin’ — no control whatsoever……..except controlling our own choices about how we spend our days. Some will choose obsession. I will not.

Boomer

Good post, I agree. I do think there is a lot of room between ignoring, being aware and being obsessed.

Nothing ever seems to get done anymore 😕

In reference to what?

I am constantly amazed at how much things are changing and improving.

The area we need to put more time into is getting along with each other. Agreeing to disagree. Finding common ground and working together for a better America.

Russia has attacked every free world country's elections and corporations for the last 15 years. They have designated troll farms to undermine Europe and US society. I wonder if those troll farms employ large numbers of young tech-savvy intellectuals? And how much were they paid? And how many have recently left Russia as part of a "brain drain" of intellectuals offended by the Ukraine war. Supposedly Russian oil production is DECREASING because of losing skilled oil field operators and maintenance people. 40% of the Russian economy is in the oil industry. Russia lacks economic diversity and they have had a Sovereign Debt default recently.
Recently Russia tried a cyber-attack against Finland and maybe Sweden because of their interest in joining NATO. Finland was probably prepared for it (better than the US) because since Finland and Russia share about an 800-mile long border - so Finland has to be prepared to resist Russia because it is strongly in their self-interest. Finland has the equivalent of an underground bomb shelter for its whole capital city. The US has hardened military sites, but not much for its civilians.

Sorry I have never heard of that. maybe because I don't go on the "dark sites"?

old news - been going on for several years

One expert retired military expert made the statement that we have already begun a 3rd world war. I am not saying that I agree with that, but I DO notice that many countries are having to pick one side or the other. Democracy or Dictatorship. Poland is a country that was balanced between the West and Russia. But, recent current events have FORCED Poland to choose - and they picked the West. Switzerland joined NATO and likely Finland and Sweden will follow soon.
I understand that Venezuela is lining up with Putin. India is supposedly a Democracy, but are they really? They trade a lot with Russia. And African nations may be deciding now whose side they will be on. It's like children picking up sides for a game only on a Global Scale! On a world population basis, people living under Dictatorships outnumber the free-world population.
The opening rounds of this global tug of war may include cyber-warfare, disinformation, and the creation of chaos and confusion.

That was well written to the point of being poetic!