Hackers appear to probe U.S. energy infrastructure, suspicions about Iran
By Chris Lawrence
The United States is investigating "a string of malicious" cyber incidents that appear to be focused on probing energy infrastructure, a U.S. official familiar with the latest intelligence tells CNN.
The official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information, said the suspected hacking did not appear to be intended to steal trade secrets or exploit technology for commercial reasons. It appeared to be aimed at identifying weaknesses in fuel and electrical systems in the United States.
While the official did not identify any suspected origins of the apparent hacking, a U.S. lawmaker raised suspicions about Iran.
The United States has over the past year become more concerned about Iran and cyber security.
American officials said last October that cyber attacks on U.S banks and oil companies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar in 2012 were believed to be carried out by surrogates supported by the Iranian government.
Iran denied any involvement.
The United States recently tightened its already tough economic sanctions against Iran in an ongoing bid to make Tehran temper its nuclear ambitions. And Congress just released a report illustrating how vulnerable the electric grid is to potential attacks from Iran and North Korea.
Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and House Intelligence Committee member, told CNN that the United States has seen "disturbing indications" that Iranian-linked elements appear willing to target U.S. infrastructure via cyber means.
"The Iranians seem less interested in stealing our military secrets or stealing how we're going to make the next Apple product," Schiff said. "They're more interested in probing our vulnerabilities - our financial structure vulnerabilities, our critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, so they can attack us – literally shut down, manipulate – cause an industrial accident."
He suggested suspected hacking could be the work of the Tehran government, organizations with ties to it like the elite Quds Force, hackers who are subsidized or private entities working on their own.
James Lewis, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies who has advised the White House on cyber issues, said the apparent incidents would indicate a "new kind of vulnerability."
Lewis says Iran could potentially use any such capability as a hedge against future attacks.
"If there is something else that happens in relation to their nuclear program, they have the ability now to do things that are damaging to the U.S.. And we don't really have a good way to stop them," he said.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the latest developments.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
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For your information, NATO Review has published a series of video interviews on cyber, including with the President of Estonia, who commented on the cyber attacks that took place in his country in spring 2007 : http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2013/Cyber/Cyber-attacks-NATO-angry-birds/EN/index.htm
Feel free to share any of the videos or the material with your networks – and let us know what you think!
For your information, and to add to the debate, NATO Review today published a series of video interviews on cyber, including with the President of Estonia, who commented on the cyber attacks that took place in his country in spring 2007: http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2013/Cyber/Cyber-attacks-NATO-angry-birds/EN/index.htm
Feel free to share any of the videos or the material with your networks.
i always frequent health stores because i always need to buy food supplemments to keep my body healthy.`:;^
Kind regards
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By the way, it appears the more we depend on technology, the more vulnerable we become to neferious misdeeds done through technology. But then again Folks, we hear the U.S and Iran have energy, so why the fighting?
@(John Smith)! you are deranged in heart breaking ways. Were you not my fellow mankind, i could have been laughing your favourite post until rib pain knocks me down.
Spying it seems, is a favourite game amongst World Governments. It is also one old damn profession practised liberally by Leaders. Reckon too will practise it if i rise to the top. Actually it ain't bad if the Leader is not mentally unstable(e.g Idi Amin, Hitler, Stalin) as it can prevent countries going to War. It is imperative that we Folks realise we are faulty(imperfect). Because to think you are ok when not, you will derail, and if we throw in a little false religion then you will go bonkers, saying stuff like there was no WW2 Jewish genocide and other public outbusts of madness.
Finally i would like encourage the boys&girls involved in the Iran, USA intelligence tussle to do it knowing that every single life lost contrary to the Creator is going to have very unpleasant repercussions.
Sometimes its nice to come from a so called irrelevant player on the world stage, because there are no Daddy's enemies from the 1st world war, or deranged martys wanting to kill you!
People who are up to no good should tone down and enjoy the last moments of sanity amidst the current system of things. Life is too short to spent it fighting other People.
Here we go again, crying "wolf" over Iran. This seems to have no end as long as the general public is dumb enough to buy into it!!! Plain ignorance is undoubtedly the worst enemy this country has!
There is a pattern of fabricated – created threats to help justify actions before the people.
if usa wants a fight then come on sooner or later that irish whoore house is going the get removed dublin ireland is going to get nuke same about ghana accra that city is also going to get nuked 1 big nuclear boom and britian usa and australia is going to get pulverized so my guess is sooner.
You are a fool, obviously your brain is as fluent as your english.
Is this more Jewish propaganda trying to get the USA into a war with Iran? I believe it is. I don't trust any news because too often it is the writings of Jewish Bolshevik types.
I thought I made some dumb posts heheheh
Paranoia is treatable, even extreme cases of it such as yours.
Its an embarrassment.
...to ElreyJones....Either you are a Muslim or just plain crazy. Isn't your tongue swollen from telling sooo many lies?
jUST KEEP FINANCING THEM BUYING THERE BLOOD OIL SO THEY CAN GET MORE WEAPONS TO USE AGAINST YOU, The whole middle east is a cess pool no hope ever dont finance them and let them rot.
How ironic! We're now crying "wolf" about Iranian "hackers", but look at who invented the Stuxnet virus and sabotaged the Iranian nuclear facility not too long ago! The U.S., Israel and Iran need to sit down and talk to one another in order to end this nonsense.
I wish that CNN would do something about these middle eastern paid spokespersons like "wjmccartan", John Geheran and Pakistani phunnie boys. All these hired morons do is post anti-American views. This has been going on for some time now and these paid lobbyist clowns need to be blocked from this web page once and for all!
That was a very good post above even if I do say so myself. After all, I posted it! Did I fool anybody here? I bet I did.
are you calling me a fool you Phunnie boy?
Ever heard of freedom of speech?
eom
One would think that the information about any vulnerability that whoever's doing the probing discovers would be of some value to Chinese PLA for instance, and thus might be a source of income, even a motivation?
The Islamic treatment of women defines the state of Islam. Women are lower than dogs! Even dogs can show their face! Half of the Islamic population is made useless by a barbaric state that fails to respect human freedoms. I can't understand how 21st women allow themselves to be treated like animals!
You're living in lala land. Most muslim women are completely supportive of Islam, they're not supportive of men that use it for their own purposes but if you think that muslim women would somehow leave Islam in droves if the US invaded every muslim country you're frankly a simpleton.
It's called education. Women mat continue to embrace their religion but would relish the freedoms of free speech, equal rights, and financial equality.. Islamic women aren't dumb, just uneducated.
The only crime of Iran is refusing to bow down to Israel, and it's sock-puppets in Congress.
America's CIA and British "intelligence" fingered 10,000 Iranians for execution when the engineered the military coup that installed the filthy Shah. Their blood stains every barrel of oil that was exported until the Islamic Revolution threw the dictator out. The mullahs aren't the brightest bulbs in the box, but they are smart enough to know who their enemies are, and that those enemies are willing to murder thousands to keep the rest of the planet under their thumb.
Speaking of brightest blubs...your not one of them are you? Sorry...just being a "Realist"!
🙂
30 watt
Just like that yellow bulb "not real bright but just keeps on shinning"
The "only crime"? Persecution of other religions, persecution of women, criminal aggression of Israel – these aren't criminal?
well, had to happen, I for one don't really think it is "Iran" per se, but certain[criminal] elements using Iran as a stalking horse, again, we did see an article a while back about all the drug action there,..think "pipeline" from elsewhere, perhaps?.BTW, All you are are slinging rhetoric and unthinking blame etc, ever think that you! are helping these criminals by reacting like this?,perhaps you should?..As for this "probing"??.. well, use it we says,, hey?..thats the thang about this tool, it can be a 2 way street, if!! it is used correctly,.. think about it,..Methinks if and when that happens?, then we will!! see who the real "payers" are at this level, and I for one do not think it is "the Iranian people",for the most part they are just ordinary people, who have the unfortunate problem of having control freaks at the helm[and that is not so rare,really, is it?],..OOTB,, works!,, use with care though please,..Take a good look at some? of the language in these comments?,Is it really any different than what comes from the other side?..any room temp IQ "person" ahem, can sling blame etc, it takes real brains to get at the solutions, and I do!! wish we saw more of that on these topics,,We never really know who! reads these, and perhaps that is not such a good thing at times, if more knew! the 5 w,s etc, then perhaps this tool would see more real,usefull, action, hey?
I agree Robert. We must stop this partisan bickering in general and find common ground. We need to be taking security issues seriously (wherever they originate), and at the same time, present a unified front to the world. Because the world is watching us fight amongst ourselves and its embarrassing, degrading, and down right becoming a distraction from working on solutions. If anything, this is becoming a cancer in our society that we must fix before we destroy ourselves from within. Even if there were not a major external threat, we have several inside our own borders that need be addressed. Some want to see internal collapse from within and they troll these sites with their negative comments every day. Lets have some positive solutions and intelligent debate. But reject those with alternative agendas that are just out to play armchair partisan politics for the sake of stirring the pot. These folks are not doing us any favors and only make us look weaker. Raise the bar folks! I don't care which side of the aisle, state, or beliefs, we are ALL AMERICANS, let act like it!
Since we know China, Iran, Russia, North Korea are the Cabal
We should advise their Governments one more time.if it continues
We should (but we won't) launch an EMP attack on North Korea
and Iran to show the world the United States is serious. I would do China
If they didn't get the memo.Have no doubt, if that Cabal had the chance they had the chance, they would launch an EMP
attack on the United States.
Would
My advice to the Iranians that are attempting to hack......keep your turbins tightly wrapped as to avoid them being caught in the hampster wheel as it spins. Otherwise, your power plant generation is at risk and you will lose the connection.
My advise to you 61398, my advise to you is you can kiss their asses because their laughing at you guys, for them to hack your so called advanced drones, your banks and your energy infrastructure.
Good one 🙂
So the Iranians dare to hack? Ever heard of Stuxnet? The chickens are coming home to roost!
The US and Israel's attacks on Iran's infrastructure will certainly come home to roost. The drone attacks on several countries will also come home to roost. It is difficult to understand why Obama, whom I believe is a smart man, why he would think in such short terms. Long term these kinds of acts will do great damage to America and it;s reputation around the world. People feel safer when international laws are adhered to. When the law is ignored, we have only anarchy left and that is very dangerous for all of us.
Here's a novel idea: If the information is too sensitive to give your name out, then how about not talking about it at all. It'll keep all the "heroes" that troll this website from getting all excited and foaming at their mouths.
Renowned American academic, Noam Chomsky, says US President Barack Obama, his predecessor George W. Bush, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair should face trial for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the ensuing turmoil in the Arab state.
“Bush and Blair ought to be up there [at the International Criminal Court]. There is no recent crime worse than the invasion of Iraq. Obama’s got to be there for the terror war,” Chomsky told Russia Today on Thursday.
In 2003, the US and Britain invaded Iraq in a blatant violation of international law and under the pretext of finding weapons of mass destruction. But no such weapons were ever found in Iraq.
More than one million Iraqis were killed as the result of the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of the country, according to the California-based investigative organization, Project Censored.
Chomsky, a prominent critic of the US foreign policy, said the invasion of Iraq is a “supreme international crime,” adding that the US and its allies were responsible for bomb attacks across the Arab country.
“The US and British invasion of Iraq was a textbook example of aggression, no questions about it. Which means that we were responsible for all the evil that follows like the bombings. Serious conflict arose, [and] it spread all over the region. In fact the region is being torn to shreds by this conflict. That is part of the evil that follows,” Chomsky stated.
Couldn't agree more. Leaders from 3rd world countries who have wreaked less havoc on the world are now in jail. But in this case, no one even mentions it. Instead they are preoccupied with starting even more carnage with Iran and/or North Korea. I guess it pays to put yourself above the law while impossing it on others. Democracy is great.
Like the banksters and Wall Street traders who brought down the world economy, they're apparently "too big to jail".
I also agree with Chomsky. The Iraq invasion caused tens of thousands of deaths of innocent Iraqi people and America will have it's hands stained in blood for generations to come. International law is everything. It must be followed at all costs. The drone attacks are also evil and cause the breakdown of international law.
It is difficult to understand why a man as smart as Obama would make this terrible mistake and not be able to grasp the damage it is doing to America's image and future.
President Obama voted against the Iraq War. Only the falsified WMD intelligence that Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld provided pushed America into war. They should be in prison.
Drones are nothing more than technology to allow more precise strikes w/o endangering the lives of Service-members. Does anybody think those 500 to 1000 pound smart bombs we use from traditional aircraft don't produce colateral damage? How about a 155 howitzer? Do you believe a manned aircraft "sees" everything before weapons systems are deployed? Do you just feel better to place our Soldiers at unnecessary risk when we kill our enemies?
In the hunt for terrorists the elephant in the room is our supposed "allies". When their governments are riddled with terrorist informers coordinated operations are a constant threat to our troops. Drones save our troops from unnecessary casualties and kill the crap out of terrorists. Those who want security and a nice, clean, gentle, war that you don't have to think about are delusional. Today's reality is a bloody street-fight against trans-national terrorism – where the enemy is infused in networks of crime and terror and the old-fashioned concept of war is obsolete. "Don't take a knife to a gun-fight"! Don't place our Soldiers at risk because you've been forced to look at war and don't like it. Should we pulll out? Of course. Should we stop using technology to attack our enemies – hell no.
Maybe if America stayed out of everyone's business we wouldn't be hated by every single nation on earth except for Israel. And Israel wouldn't like us either if not for the enormous financial aid package we gift wrap for them every year.
The only ones who hate us are Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua and of course the Palestinians.
There are more than 220 countries on this planet and only 5 have a problem with us.
You sound like an idiot.
I am not so sure that the world "Hates" America. Hate is an ugly thing and does nothing to help nurture peace and understanding.
But clearly the world is looking at America and is shocked at what it is doing on the world stage. Few countries support the drone attacks for example. Most countries look at what happened to the Iraqi people and feel that the killing fields were a disaster. There was a reason that most countries did not want to follow Ameerica into the invasion.
Only fools like Blair stepped up to the plate because he thought he saw a fat meal in front of him.
@derykhouston,Pres.Obama is fighting against a tide of hate from republicans the warmongers since his inaugeration whos previous administration,president in Bush got us into this mess in Iraq,Afghanistan..Remember lies or not there wasn't enough investigating done prior to declaring war against Iraq and it wasn't fair sending Colin Powell in either to deliver Bushs lies,supposid facts to the UN and both houses that also brought down his own military,political career as well..As you say its not hate as much as disgust or now lack of respect for a once proud and caring country that did more in humanitarian aid to countries than all other countries combined but now are looked at as messagers of death and destruction because of greed and ignorence something this president and administration is trying to correct in eventually getting out of Afghanistan by 2014 if all goes well!This president is a respected diplomate something Bushs weren't and if he gets his way maybe it'll be a more peaceful ,respected country in America that we'll be seen in future generations but not until these wars are stopped and peace is seen again something this country hasn't seen in almost two decades because of republicans and their partners in crime the MIC,they're the ones with innocents blood on their hands and its they that should help to correct it!!
Pete I want to thank you for your facts on subjects, your a bit hung up on some things but you got me really thinking a lot. Im not much on politics but the things I know are strange. I know science , geography, environmental. I know a lot of things and Im educated but Im also a war vet and thanks. Just read topography and intergrade it. Look at a map and you can read a society.And if you look at a map of the middle east you will see what nations are vunerable.
@jomama,thanks for your response and yes I understand how some countries as you've said are vunerable land locked nations in the middle east but everyone even in this country don't get to pick their neighbors do they or everything would be just peachy right..Take care and watch out for Trolls,they're everywhere!!
Land lock your not looking hard enough.
@jomama,not land locked in that sense but of locked up with your inherient neighbors that can't stand each other,did that correct my response from before,my fault for using the wrong terms.No love lost amongst all of them either and most are Muslim right!!...Take care...
deykhouston....Maybe you should do a little research before you comment. There were 36 other countries who also invaded Iraq!
More wars
America is the root of all terror. America has invaded sixty countries since world war 2.
In 1953 America overthrow Iran's democratic government Mohammad Mosaddegh and installed a brutal dictator Shah. America helped Shah of Iran to establish secret police and killed thousands of Iranian people.
During Iran-Iraq war evil America supported Suddam Hossain and killed millions of Iranian people. In 1989, America, is the only country ever, shot down Iran's civilian air plane, killing 290 people.
In 2003,America invaded Iraq and killed 1,000,000+ innocent Iraqi people and 4,000,000+ Iraqi people were displaced.
Now America is a failed state with huge debt. Its debt will be 22 trillion by 2015.
Do you live in this country?
I love America.
Russia has shot down civilian airliners before. Look it up dummy.
This guy is an idiot don't answer him in the future your wasting your time. Picking his nose and scratching his brain hes pretty good at, at the same time.
It's simple. Everybody, just configure your routers to reject all traffic with the *.ir suffex. Problem solved.
Apparently, you have no idea what routers do.
So did tech companies give source code to Iran in the past, or did Iran get the source code from allies we gave it to (e.g. Russia, China)?
Well, @Joplin. HOpe you are in Iran. If you hate America you shouldn't be here if you are. Nuff said. However, on cyber attacks it could be anyone. The Red Army is doing cyber stuff all the way from selling gold on World of Warcraft to probing out government computers. If Iran is doing it, so what. Just makes our cyber security specialists even smarter. I know some Iranians. They are really nice people. I don't think the USA started anything with Iran. Iran started it by being belligerent to the entire world. Many other countries have agreed with embargos and sanctions on Iran. I don't blame the regular Iranian. I blame their government and their Dictator.
Agreed and well-said, thanks
Stuxnet blowback, nothing more.
There's the Taliban in Pakistan/Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and AQ sympathizers everywhere in the Middle East and Africa. I believe it is only a matter of time before we are involved in a hot war with all of them. Israel will get it going when it hits Iran.
So this official is accusing Iron of spying, while revealing information so sensitive that he wishes to remain anonymous? Why does Iran need to spy if the folks who are in the know are revealing that informatin to reporters.
Any real attack of the USA would first shut down infrastructure. Truck bombs on river bridges, hacking of electrical grids, shut down ATC computers, hack into automation at water treatment plants, jamming of the GPS system, and that's just a start. It would be a coordinated effort from NK, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Somalia, Hezbollah, and Talliban. Iran is already buying surplus submarines and aircraft carriers from Russia. Iran says it will launch 1000 drones over US targets in about 5 years. Its not to take us over but to bring us to our knees. SO in reality, we need to have a nuclear equiped sub within striking distance of Tehran at all times going forward.
Iran is buying surplus aircraft carriers from Russia? Really? What does a good used aircraft carrier go for on Craig's List these days? Does it come with a guarantee?
The aircraft carrier Liaoning of China was stripped to the bone in 1998 by Russia, commissioned by Chinese navy 2012. FOURTEEN YEARS to retrofit after purchase with all of China's advanced technology which the Iranians do not posses. Your fears and paranoia are irrational, Iran can not harm anyone except it's own citizens.
HAHA! What a troll! That's all absurd! Craaaaaazyyyyyy!
And did you mention Cuba? CUBA?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! There are enough angry, old, white Cubans in wheelchairs in Miami nursing homes to take out Castro's "army" (if given the proper supplies, of course).
If that's your idea of a war with Iran, I CAN'T !@#$ING WAIT!!!! Bring it on! HAHA!
Paranoid nut case.
UH, I believe about 50 ICBM's would stop that. Try another fairy tail.
I don't understand why key things like the power grid are even "online". Why is it possible for hackers to do anything to it? couldnt you just keep it on its own private network or as an "offline" system? The U.S. government created the internet so i'd imagine we're among the most talented at using it but will it ever be possible to create something thats for lack of a better term: hackerproof? This power grid story has been brought up over and over again.....is anything being done about it? is it even a real problem?
They are on a private network, but the private network extends through a VPN (Virtual Private Network) so outside private networks can interact. VPN's can be hijacked though, usually through malware.
Here is the deal. They companies that run the grid are too cheap to have engineers at all the locations so they try to hire a few engineers (possibly outside the US) to be able to access and manage this equipment remotely. Problem is if they can access it remotely then so can a hacker.
The government needs to get hot on this, a couple of years ago a power outage in the San Diego caused havoc and businesses lost money, could you imagine if someone put just a few large cities into a blackout at the same time, it would be a major disaster!!
Yeah there was a blackout some years ago starting in Ohio, then Michigan, concentrating mainly in New York, felt a little bit in Canada and blinked some lights at University of Maryland. But that had nothing to do with someone tampering with the infrastructure, sabotaging our power grid system. Iran needs to be dealt with, such as some military action.
YEah, I recall that, and the Bush Admin was trying to lay blame on Canada when it turned out it was our own fault, and the Canadian (Mayor/Governor?) said the BEST LINE EVER:
"when does America ever take responsibility for anything?"
I loved that.
If there is cyberattack on u.s.a then we should respond with cruise missiles tipped with nuclear warheads. case closed and lesson for china etc.
You're a load your mom should have swallowed.
p.s. – she doesn't know who your dad is, either.
Nice post!
I thought the same thing about Louis Gohmert today.
You're ridiculous! Nuclear warheads for response?! incredible.
and hypocritical – u.s. does the same thing. if someone does it to u.s. the response called for is 'nuclear'? thank god you are nowhere near that button
Sri is right. F@#K Iran. If the M-slimes cause disorder and hardships in America, the M-slimes will be obliterated. May the cleansing of the SH@& begin.
You do know, don't you, that anyone that can hack into the utility companies' computers and cause power to be shut down, banks computers, etc. can also have the ability to hack into the Defense Department computers and shut down the ability to respond?
Dam right. The only thing these clowns understand is force and domination. I am not sure i would go so far as to nuke them . . . . (As I pray nukes are never used on this earth again), but I would be just fine raining some serious fire power down on their heads (infrastructure, Air Force, military targets, and above all political targets- take out the frigan mullahs and their henchman so the people have a chance to take their country back.
@Grammarian,wasn't it a high school kid that hacked into the defense files in the Pentagon years ago,more embarassing than amousing wouldn't it be and boy heads would roll wouldn't they!!Anything today whether you like it or not can be hacked because if a human invented the security systems or even computer automated than its flawed because no person intelligent or not can create perfection and the military ,others pay big dollars for that type of perfection and everyone here knows firewalls can be burned down like it or not,its done every day in business.Why not piggy back on some one else's ideas,its cheaper than R&Ding your own!! The Chinese ,Russians have been doing it for years haven't they!!
What kind of politicians we have! They are united only when it comes the interest of Israel. They were never on single platform, nor united when there is a question of US interest. That's our great politicians!
Which story are you reading? There is no mention of Israel at all in this story.
Hey Rob, the Hitler youth rally is 2 blocks down . . .and to the left. You can't miss it. I mean honestly, can we leave Israel out of a discussion just one frigan time? This has nothing to do with Israel. But I am a person with blinders on, seemingly like yourself, just can't see it any other way. So sad for you.
rest assured, we're doing the same thing to them. and we're much better at it
Good job iran. Im so proud to be an iranian. Lets not forget ameica started this dirty game.
proud? why? what have they done besides poke around a bit? If they had really been smart the USA would never have found out about this.
It's called deterrence. maybe your too dumb to know about this stuff.
Do we really want to go to war with Iran? If so, why? For who's benefit?
@ Joplin
Good job iran. Im so proud to be an iranian. Lets not forget ameica started this dirty game.
-------------------------
First of all, any iranian who did this likely went to school here (or at least the west) and is by no means a national accomplishment.
Second, there are 16 year olds in basements in the states that can do and have done worse then childish brute force attacks by iran.
Third, the united states can, is, and will do far worse to iran whenever it feels like.
Well said. Be careful when you poke a tiger. If you do it too many times . . . Watch out.
Joplin, please go away. Go to Iran where you belong.
go back to iran and live in the stone age you total total loser! You know your iranian you should be good at losing!
Why would you.... never mind Im not gonna argue with someone that worships a baby raper as a profit, and comes from a country that couldnt figure out how to start a fire with out help from the west! Go back to iran and live in your wonderful baby raper worshiping stone age society! Ya lol your so dumb!