US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivanand Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan warned of cyberattacks by hackers on critical infrastructure, particularly in the water sector.
Through a joint letter, they asked for governors' support to ensure that water systems in their states are adequately protected from cyberattacks.
“Drinking water and wastewater systems are very important to communities, but many systems have not adopted cybersecurity practices to prevent potential cyberattacks,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
See also: CISA: Volt Typhoon hackers target critical infrastructure – Protection tips
The National Security Council (NSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have called for a virtual meeting with governors to discuss and strengthen collaboration between government agencies and water systems, with the goal of creating a Water Sector Cybersecurity Task Force.
This task force will be responsible for finding strategies that can be implemented to minimize the risk of cyberattacks on providers and water systems.
“We have worked across government to implement significant cybersecurity across our nation’s critical infrastructure, including the water sector, as we remain vigilant about the risks and costs of cyber threats,” Sullivan said.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the EPA to strengthen the cybersecurity of America's water and wastewater systems“.
See also: Veolia North America: The water company fell victim to ransomware
Cyberattacks target water providers in the US
Last month, CISA, the FBI, and the EPA proposed some defense measures that the water sector should implement to reduce the risks of cyberattacks.
In recent months, several hacking groups, particularly from Iran and China, have targeted and compromised U.S. water systems. Attackers infiltrated a Pennsylvania water facility, while Volt Typhoon hackers compromised critical infrastructure networks, including drinking water systems.
Facilities in the US Water and Wastewater Systems (WWS) sector have been breached multiple times over the past decade, sometimes leading to the deployment of Ghost, ZuCaNo, and Makop ransomware.
Attacks on water systems can cause significant disruptions to water supplies. This can lead to widespread water outages, affecting both domestic uses and industrial processes.
See also: NCSC: Asks UK water companies to strengthen cybersecurity measures
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Additionally, these cyberattacks can cause water quality to be tampered with. Hackers can change the settings of chemicals used to treat water, creating dangerous conditions for public health.
Of course, there can also be serious economic losses. Restoring water systems after an attack can be very expensive, while the interruption of water supply can have negative effects on the economy.
Finally, these attacks can cause a loss of public trust. Citizens depend on water systems for their daily lives and the threat of attacks can create a sense of insecurity.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
