30. Internet-based attacks on critical systems such as gas, power and water have increased around the world, a report suggests. Security firm McAfee surveyed 200 IT executives working for utility companies in 14 countries. Eight out of ten said their networks had been targeted by hackers during the past year. China was seen as the most likely source of attacks, followed by Russia and the United States. The number of reported incidents was higher than in 2009 when just over half of those asked said they had fallen victim. Most of the reported security breaches took the form of distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. These typically involve a network of computers, under the control of criminals, overwhelming a company’s internet-connected systems. While such incidents have the potential to impact websites and corporate networks, researchers said it was unlikely they were intended to cut off energy supplies. However, there remained a possibility that DDOS attacks could do more harm in future, according to Stewart Baker, a former U.S. national security advisor to President George W Bush and one of the report’s authors. Arguably the best known example of an internet-borne threat disrupting an industrial system is the Stuxnet worm, which was discovered in 2010. Analysis suggests that the malicious computer code was specifically designed to take control of machinery in either Iran’s Bushehr or Natanz nuclear facilities. While it was known that the worm had spread more widely than its intended target, McAfee’s research suggested the full extent of its reach. Among those utility companies that had carried out a search for Stuxnet on their computer systems, 40% found traces of it. “It probably didn’t result in any obvious interference with the systems, because it wasn’t designed to do that,” said Mr. Baker. The Stuxnet worm...

Question

30. Internet-based attacks on critical systems such as gas, power and water have increased around the world, a report suggests. Security firm McAfee surveyed 200 IT executives working for utility companies in 14 countries. Eight out of ten said their networks had been targeted by hackers during the past year. China was seen as the most likely source of attacks, followed by Russia and the United States. The number of reported incidents was higher than in 2009 when just over half of those asked said they had fallen victim. Most of the reported security breaches took the form of distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. These typically involve a network of computers, under the control of criminals, overwhelming a company’s internet-connected systems. While such incidents have the potential to impact websites and corporate networks, researchers said it was unlikely they were intended to cut off energy supplies. However, there remained a possibility that DDOS attacks could do more harm in future, according to Stewart Baker, a former U.S. national security advisor to President George W Bush and one of the report’s authors.    Arguably the best known example of an internet-borne threat disrupting an industrial system is the Stuxnet worm, which was discovered in 2010. Analysis suggests that the malicious computer code was specifically designed to take control of machinery in either Iran’s Bushehr or Natanz nuclear facilities. While it was known that the worm had spread more widely than its intended target, McAfee’s research suggested the full extent of its reach. Among those utility companies that had carried out a search for Stuxnet on their computer systems, 40% found traces of it. “It probably didn’t result in any obvious interference with the systems, because it wasn’t designed to do that,” said Mr. Baker.  The Stuxnet worm...

Accepted Answer

Was intended for Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Answer

Was designed in 2010.

Answer

Was found to have disrupted utility companies’ computer systems.

Answer

Originated in Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Crowdly

30. Internet-based attacks on critical systems such as gas, power and water have...

Want instant access to all verified answers on www.campusdefensa.es?