Archive

Hackers May Have Targeted Illinois Water Plant

SABOTAGE

Possible cyberattack traced to Russia.

cheats/2011/11/19/hackers-may-have-targeted-illinois-water-plant/internet-memory-computers-cheat_tdruh6
Justin Guariglia, National Geographic / AP Photo

Foreign hackers may have targeted an Illinois water plant last week, causing a pump to burn out and fail, according to a preliminary investigation. If confirmed, it would be the first known cyberattack to damage U.S. physical infrastructure. According to the report compiled by an Illinois state intelligence center (the source of the information is unknown), a series of glitches caused a water pump's motor to turn on and off frequently, eventually damaging it. The report blamed the attack on someone using a Russian IP address. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are investigating the incident.

Read it at The Washington Post

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.