Last week, the Department of Homeland Security revealed a rash of cyber attacks on natural gas pipeline companies. Just as with previous cyber attacks on infrastructure, there was no known physical damage. But security experts worry it may only be a matter of time.
Efforts to protect pipelines and other critical systems have been halting despite broad agreement that they're vulnerable to viruses like Stuxnet 2014 the mysterious worm that caused havoc to Iran's nuclear program two years ago.
The Frankenstein-like virus infected a type of industrial controller that is ubiquitous 2014 used around the world on everything from pipelines to the electric grid.
Experts say manufacturers haven't fixed security flaws in these essential but obscure devices.
Why hasn't more been done? Here's why Stuxnet remains a top national security risk.
Q. What is Stuxnet, anyway?
Stuxnet first made headlines when it burrowed into computers that controlled uranium centrifuges in Iran's renegade nuclear program. Its self-replicating computer code is usually transmitted on flash drives anyone can stick into a computer. Once activated, the virus made Iran's centrifuges spin out of control while making technicians think everything was working normally 2014 think of a scene in a bank heist movie where the robbers loop old security camera footage while they sneak into the vault.
Read more at The Atlantic Wire.
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