Security holes in power grid have federal officials scrambling

[unhappycamper]

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-grid-security-20140407,0,5068036.story



A report chronicling the vulnerability of the power grid said: “Many of the grid’s important components sit out in the open, often in remote locations, protected by little more than cameras and chain-link fences.”

Security holes in power grid have federal officials scrambling
By Evan Halper
April 7, 2014, 3:00 a.m

WASHINGTON — Adam Crain assumed that tapping into the computer networks used by power companies to keep electricity zipping through transmission lines would be nearly impossible in these days of heightened vigilance over cybersecurity.

When he discovered how wrong he was, his work sent Homeland Security Department officials into a scramble.

Crain, the owner of a small tech firm in Raleigh, N.C., along with a research partner, found penetrating transmission systems used by dozens of utilities to be startlingly easy. After they shared their discovery with beleaguered utility security officials, the Homeland Security Department began sending alerts to power grid operators, advising them to upgrade their software.

The alerts haven't stopped because Crain keeps finding new security holes he can exploit.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Millions of miles of gas and oil pipelines.

No security there at all.

[WhiteTara]

2. Time to move to distributed energy

that works small areas, not giant transmission lines that require fossil fuels.

[phantom power]

3. you see, they've been so busy the last 12 years with airport security theater

there's only so many hours in the day...

[djean111]

4. Neighborhood solar grids.