How Safe is a Smart Grid?  

TreeHugger has a post on the recent bout of hysteria about the network security of smart grids - Rash of Infiltrated Computer Systems Prods Question: How Safe is a Smart Grid?. These reports mostly seem to be stating the obvious - its a network of devices that needs to have security measures built in.

Lately, we just keep hearing more and more bad news about technology falling hopelessly under attack by dastardly bad-doers, otherwise known as cyber-hackers. With so much bad news finding its way into headlines, it makes some experts wonder just how safe a Smart Grid can ever be...

For instance, Just this past week Canadian researchers reported on a vast Chinese electronic spy operation, dubbed “GhostNet”. The operation was believed to have infiltrated a slew of government and business computers across the world, stealing documents and anything else they could get their grubby keyboard imprinted mitts on. In addition, it is believed the attackers were also able to monitor the owner of the infected computer through control of their webcam, etc.

Most recently for this April Fools Day (April 1st), reports of another scare have surfaced involving a cyber-Trojan, called the Conficker Worm. It is/was expected to either become one of the more dastardly criminal plots we've seen in awhile, or one of the more elaborate April Fools gags. The worm is believed to cause the infected computer to randomly connect to thousands of URLs, possibly stealing passwords, documents, bank information, etc. Thankfully, those with Apple systems or healthy, updated Microsoft systems are believed to be protected.

Scares like these are nothing new and they will continue to happen, we accept that. What is of greater concern, is the warnings being tossed around by security experts that say what can be accomplished through our personal computers can also effect much larger enterprise networks, such as a Smart Grid. Only a year ago it was reported by the CIA that a group of hackers had invaded the networks of several worldwide power authorities, creating mass power outages, and threatening extortion demands.