Hacking Power Grids: A Current Problem

Cyberattacks against power grids and other critical infrastructures are increasing in frequency and severity. Government and industry stakeholders must take more active steps to address the problem before a major catastrophe occurs.

Power-Grid Attacks

As Table 1 shows, there have been several cyberattacks against power companies and grids over the past decade.^7–15 These attacks are becoming more frequent. In 2012, for example, of 200 or so cyberattacks on US critical infrastructures, about half of those targeted a power grid.¹⁶ Power-grid attacks are also increasing in severity. ESET security researchers regarded the Industroyer malware that caused a blackout in Kiev in December 2016 to be the biggest threat to industrial control systems since Stuxnet, which did substantial damage to Iran's nuclear program.¹⁷