(Bloomberg) – Hackers increasingly threaten sites in the U.S. ranging from nuclear power plants to water processing systems, according to a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), adding his voice to warnings from several agencies and officials in recent weeks.
Related: What's the best business insurance to cover a cyber breach?
“Cyberattacks have the potential to cause significant, widespread impacts on energy infrastructure,” Commissioner Neil Chatterjee said Friday in an emailed response to questions. “Sophisticated hacking tools are becoming more widely available, and cyber threats are constantly evolving, making such attacks more versatile.”
Growing alarm
Chatterjee's remarks underscore the alarm growing after the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a report earlier this month saying that Russian hackers have been attacking the electric grid, power plants, air transportation facilities and targets in the commercial and manufacturing sectors — attempting to gain remote access or install malware or make spear phishing attempts.
A report released by the Energy Department last year warned that the country's power grid was in “imminent danger” from a cyber attack.
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
- Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
- Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
