3 ms·
Hacking a Power Grid in Three (Not-So-Easy) Steps
- Caveman_Coder 9y agoTLDR: Step 1 - Gain access to traditional corporate IT networks Step 2 - Gain access to operation ICS/SCADA/EMS systems (hard because traditional corporate IT systems and operational systems are "air gapped") Step 3 - Manipulate field equipment/trip breakers/cause power outages (rare because doing so requires a high level of understanding of the compromised power system, as well as having compromised more than one utility/transmission company) I'd assume a lot of people would be worried about losing power (tripping bkrs open), but I'd be concerned about closing bkrs that are currently open, as there could be a crew in the field working on a line that they think is de-energized. You could actually do a lot of damage closing a 500kV transmission line by simply closing one of the breakers on an open-ended line (considering closing phase angle concerns). Is there anyone here on HN that works on electric grid cybersecurity that could chime in?