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DHS: Hackers Mounting Organized Cyber Attack on US Gas Pipelines

ABC News -- For the past six months, an unidentified group of hackers has been mounting an ongoing, coordinated cyber attack on the control systems of U.S. gas pipelines, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to issue alerts.

According to U.S. officials, it's unclear if a foreign power is trying to map the gas systems or if hackers are attempting to harm the pipelines. A previous attack on the oil and gas sector seemed to originate in China.

The hackers are using a technique called "spear-phishing," according to the DHS, in hopes of stealing passwords and gaining access to the pipelines' control systems. Spear-phishers send targeted emails to specific individuals that seem to come from friends or associates, and when opened, attachments or links in the emails release malware into the victim'

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Submitted May 09, 2012 By: DellDude2

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,811 Points:1,635,270 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2012 5:40:52 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse CdnLynx: wise words of caution.
Agarre Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,335 Points:263,785 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 8:33:46 AM Ignore Agarre Report Abuse Cyber attack on Gas pipelines ?
pbear316 Champion Author Akron Posts:2,150 Points:702,440 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 6:37:58 AM Ignore pbear316 Report Abuse It's surprising how easy it is to get people to click on a link.
Virgin55 Veteran Author Ocala Posts:313 Points:890,290 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 2:51:03 AM Ignore Virgin55 Report Abuse ok
CdnLynx Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,079 Points:537,580 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 2:37:52 AM Ignore CdnLynx Report Abuse At one time the western alliances were and still are tested time and again; remember when soviet bombers flew to provoke NORAD, to respond fighters and vice verse. Military forces the world over continue to this day to probe their competitors; espionage around the world is active as we speak. DO Not kid yourself; everybody is looking for an advantage. This is not just the realm of terrorists. With the internet, cyber-world has become a new echelon and has now become a verified battlefield. It is not just gamers playing games on the net. The internet is actually a battlefield, where there are weaknesses and prizes to be one. This site, where we sometimes battle others with words is a microcosm of this very battlefield; and yes we are being watched! This world is very powerful and is a powerful as the ideas that we pen here.
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:9,037 Points:1,759,110 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 1:45:18 AM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse I am with nomad228. Find them and put them in jail.
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:11,974 Points:1,312,025 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 1:03:01 AM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Old news.
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,377 Points:915,435 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:39:00 AM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse I am surprised how naive many posters are around here. This is not a hack that could have been stopped by not opening email attachments, installing anti-virus software, have a better firewall (maybe a little help there) or not putting the information on the internet (where it isn't). This is an organized attack on several levels that can, and probably will, take months to resolve, especially if some of the gas pipeline operators have a global internal network. Any little vulnerability anywhere in that network anywhere in the world is enough for the hacker to gain access to the network. The hacker has most likely made a dozen hops before he got in to the network, so it is not trivial to detect where he really is. Luckily, the people at CERT are the professionals and with a little bit of luck, and a lot of cooperation from the hacked organization, it can be resolved, but it will take time. Don't blame DHS, they have no means to monitor this unless the hacked organization alerts them. [Edited by: TustinDad at 5/10/2012 12:39:11 AM EST]
KrsnaDragon Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,542 Points:557,275 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:31:36 AM Ignore KrsnaDragon Report Abuse Destructive, anti-social deeds serve to destroy and isolate their actor.
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,955 Points:1,491,945 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:29:33 AM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse Aggggggh!
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,377 Points:915,435 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:28:25 AM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse milespergallon wrote: "Another example of how dysfunctional the dhs and most other governmental agencies. Our 'Homeland Security' is neither secure nor retaining OUR Homeland which we used to be accustomed to. If you don't believe, take the example of the TERRORIST group called tsa!" What? You don't like or Heimland Sicherhietsdienst or That Stupid Agency? I can't say I blame you, but in this case it is not so much the fault of DHS. If the private organizations don't report the intrusion to CERT, there is nothing they can do. Believe me, I speak of personal experience.
gus8441 Champion Author Baltimore Posts:2,239 Points:468,250 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:25:30 AM Ignore gus8441 Report Abuse uh oh
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,674 Points:713,805 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:23:49 AM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:22:00 AM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse not good.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,740 Points:3,518,505 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:21:43 AM Ignore DEG Report Abuse The controls of the pipelines should be on private networks not connected to the internet.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,993 Points:1,638,975 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:21:10 AM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “Spear-phishers send targeted emails to specific individuals that seem to come from friends or associates, and when opened, attachments or links in the emails release malware . . . .” Be very careful about e-mail links and attachments. Use only plain text for e-mail, never html, and do not click on links or open attachments unless you are certain who actually sent the message and why the link or attachment is there. Nothing is 100% but these simple rules will divert almost all threats.
nztyraider Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,322 Points:715,455 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:20:58 AM Ignore nztyraider Report Abuse Oops.
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:16,825 Points:3,057,345 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:20:40 AM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse This really needs to stop
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,143 Points:580,215 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:18:39 AM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse like i said before, track em down and cur their digits off. : )
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:18:02 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Hopefully the people do not open any email they are NOT sure of, or have verified user.
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:5,753 Points:1,583,615 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:17:26 AM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse just china finding a way to route more oil their way
btex49 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,835 Points:554,655 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:15:01 AM Ignore btex49 Report Abuse It would not surprise me if China were behind the hacking into the controls of our gas pipelines.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,844 Points:757,590 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:14:32 AM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Not sure I understand the motive
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,975 Points:1,457,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:14:23 AM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Either Chinks or chumps are having a field day invading the weak defenses of pipeline protocols...
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:13:55 AM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse Bush's fault
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,484 Points:2,283,530 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:13:46 AM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Many infrastructure organizations have the same concers - consuder nuclear power plants, for one
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,095 Points:2,549,740 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:13:14 AM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse ok
KnoxGasPriceSpy Champion Author Knoxville Posts:141,255 Points:946,545 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:11:03 AM Ignore KnoxGasPriceSpy Report Abuse sounds like a false flag...
Colts13 Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,706 Points:571,260 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:10:32 AM Ignore Colts13 Report Abuse Ok.
thuathienhue Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,579 Points:658,790 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:09:31 AM Ignore thuathienhue Report Abuse North America needs keep together
bobdec Champion Author Miami Posts:9,099 Points:1,796,545 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:08:40 AM Ignore bobdec Report Abuse Great hope they inflict big damage on DHS
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,085 Points:858,455 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:08:18 AM Ignore regout Report Abuse Capture them and put them in prison, in Guantanamo.
yakstar Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,545 Points:505,275 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:07:53 AM Ignore yakstar Report Abuse sweet b jesus...
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,469 Points:1,563,535 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:07:38 AM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Do unto on us as they've done to you, but what the hell is this world coming to ?
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,827 Points:564,770 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:06:59 AM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse Capture them and put them in prison, in Madagascar.
HKL All-Star Author Wilmington Posts:639 Points:359,430 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:05:43 AM Ignore HKL Report Abuse ok
Raider44 Champion Author Allentown Posts:1,069 Points:1,602,850 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:05:26 AM Ignore Raider44 Report Abuse Another crisis the government can 'rescue' us from.
mgune9 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:914 Points:200,395 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 10, 2012 12:00:27 AM Ignore mgune9 Report Abuse of course -- we need a new excuse to get prices on the uptrend again
USCCRN Sophomore Author Long Island Posts:145 Points:104,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:58:46 PM Ignore USCCRN Report Abuse We need more security for our cyber-infrastructures.
silverfoxv65 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,613 Points:1,255,500 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:58:10 PM Ignore silverfoxv65 Report Abuse Ok
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,174 Points:1,755,920 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:50:45 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse why us?
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:6,118 Points:1,136,670 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:50:28 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse ""I would be surprised if it is being done by someone other than china. Who else wants to destroy america... obummer ? The EPA ? could be !"" Don't think its China, at some point they want us to repay our loans to them...
ortegs12009 Champion Author California Posts:1,253 Points:708,060 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:42:22 PM Ignore ortegs12009 Report Abuse ok i guess
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,230 Points:823,000 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:38:34 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse It's another false flag so the government can take control of the internet to protect us.
IUVidiot Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,720 Points:735,085 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:33:10 PM Ignore IUVidiot Report Abuse ok
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,844 Points:757,590 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:31:42 PM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Not sure I understand the motive
iamforiu Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,705 Points:737,390 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:30:10 PM Ignore iamforiu Report Abuse ok
sdiddydaddy Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,101 Points:415,445 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:27:03 PM Ignore sdiddydaddy Report Abuse bunch of losers with nothing better to do.
mplato Champion Author Columbia Posts:8,384 Points:1,841,995 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:26:47 PM Ignore mplato Report Abuse thats all we need...cyber attacks with "Live Free or Die Hard" on now fighting the same thing.
Paw5X Champion Author Gary Posts:9,938 Points:2,276,630 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:25:02 PM Ignore Paw5X Report Abuse Send in the Marines!!