| Home : May 22 2013 Computer News : U.S. power companies under frequent cyberattack |
|
U.S. power companies under frequent cyberattack |
May 22, 2013
A survey of U.S. utilities shows many are facing frequent cyberattacks that could threaten a highly interdependent power grid supplying more than 300 million people, according to a congressional report.More than a dozen utilities said cyberattacks were daily or constant, according to the survey, commissioned by U.S. Democratic Representatives Edward J. Markey and Henry A. Waxman. The 35-page report on the survey, called "Electric Grid Vulnerability," was released on Tuesday.The report is in response to widespread concerns that hackers could damage parts of the U.S. power grid, causing widespread outages and prolonged economic effects. Markey and Waxman are members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, which held a hearing on cyberthreats and security on Tuesday.Power outages and quality disturbances cost the U.S. economy upwards of US$188 billion annually, with single outages costing as much as $10 billion, the report said. Replacing large transformers, for example, can take more than 20 months.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2039480/us-power-companies-under-frequent-cyberattack.html#tk.rss_all
|
|
|
|
|
