Infrastructure protection

Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure reach U.S.
Most of the U.S. critical infrastructure is run by computers which are connected to the Internet; this makes them susceptible to cyber attacks; a few days ago, the control system of a water pump in Illinois was taken over by a hacker’s remote command, and then deliberately destroyed; what critical infrastructure facilities will hackers – nerdy teenagers, terrorists, or intelligence operatives of other nations – target next?
- Read more
Europe faces rare Earth metal shortages
The EU’s ambitious low-carbon energy production goal depends on five technologies: nuclear, solar, wind, bio-energy, and carbon capture; these technologies, in turn, depend on rare Earth metals; the EU estimates that a large-scale deployment of only one of these technologies — solar energy — will require half the current world supply of tellurium and 25 percent of the supply of indium
- Read more

Sector Report for Monday, 14 November 2011: Infrastructure protection
This report contains the following stories.
* Nations could cripple U.S. with retaliatory cyberattack

* Smart grid security market to jump to $2 billion in 2016

* DARPA to boost cyber research spending by 50 percent

* Also noted
Plus 1 additional story.
Read more
Nations could cripple U.S. with retaliatory cyberattack
Last week Richard Clarke, a top adviser to three presidents, sounded a dire warning that the United States should avoid going to war with other nations because its computer networks systems are so vulnerable to attack
- Read more

Smart grid security market to jump to $2 billion in 2016
Analysts project that spending on smart grid security will exceed $2 billion in the next five years; according to ABI Research’s report, titled “Smart Grid Security,” $590 million was spent on securing the smart grid in 2010 and by 2016 that number will rocket to $2 billion
- Read more
Protecting infrastructure from natural hazards
Accurate mapping data plays an important role in improving the resilience of the U.K.’s critical infrastructure to disruption from natural hazards
- Read more

Chemical industry hit by “Nitro” cyberattacks
In a string of cyberattacks, hackers have stolen critical formulas and plans from major chemical companies; the latest attacks, dubbed “Nitro,” were uncovered by Symanetec, which reported the hackers aims were corporate espionage rather than a terrorist attempt to procure chemicals
- Read more
Big asteroid to fly uncomfortably close to Earth
A hefty asteroid — dubbed asteroid 2005 YU55 — will zoom uncomfortable close to Earth on Tuesday, 8 November; the asteroid is classified as a potentially hazardous object, but it poses no threat of an Earth collision — for at least the next 100 years; scientists say the asteroid is a reminder that our planet is just a sitting duck in a cosmic shooting gallery
- Read more

DHS warns Anonymous may target critical infrastructure
DHS is warning critical infrastructure operators that the international hacking group known as Anonymous has threatened to attack industrial control systems, the software that governs automated processes for nearly every major utility or production facility including factories, power stations, chemical plants, and pharmacies
- Read more
Army engineers need $1 billion to repair damaged levees
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is urgently requesting $1 billion to repair flood control systems along the Mississippi and Missouri river basins following damage from record floods this spring; the historic flooding forced the corps to blow up portions of the levee to relieve pressure, flooding thousands of acres of farmland to protect cities along the rivers
- Read more

Sector Report for Monday, 31 October 2011: Infrastructure protection
This report contains the following stories.
* More than 18,000 bridges in metro areas structurally deficient

* Senior FBI official suggest creating alternative Internet

* Electrical grid targeted by hackers

* Also noted
Plus 1 additional story.
Read more
More than 18,000 bridges in metro areas structurally deficient
A recently released report found that more than 18,000 U.S. bridges in the busiest cities are “structurally deficient”; each day 75 percent of all traffic crosses one of these deficient bridges and in cities like Los Angeles, an average of 396 drivers cross a deficient bridge every second
- Read more

Electrical grid targeted by hackers
The co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus warns that U.S. electrical grids are becoming increasingly attractive targets for hackers in a potential cyberwar
- Read more
Napolitano: hackers "came close" to shutting down critical infrastructure
On Thursday DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano revealed that hackers have “come close” to shutting down parts of the nation’s critical infrastructure; at a press conference Napolitano stated that hackers have attempted to infiltrate financial systems, transportation networks, and other key elements of U.S. critical infrastructure, making cyberattacks on these facilities one of her top concerns
- Read more
Formation of Senate and House rare Earth minerals caucuses urged
The Association for Rare Earth yesterday urged the creation of Senate and House caucuses to focus on the challenges of securing supplies of rare Earth elements for U.S. high technology, clean energy, and defense communities
- Read more

More headlines