Report warns of cyberattack risk at nuclear power plants

BBC : As nuclear power plants rely more on digital systems and software, they are becoming more vulnerable to attack by hackers, says a new report by Chatham House , a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization based in London. The group, which studied nuclear plants around the world over an 18-month period, found that although nuclear plants have been slow to implement external IT networks, a growing number are adding some level of internet connectivity, such as VPN. And even those facilities that remain isolated from the public internet can still be easily breached “with nothing more than a flash drive.” To counter a potential cyberattack, the group recommends raising awareness among facility operators of the danger, educating nuclear plant personnel about key cybersecurity procedures, and developing and encouraging the universal adoption of guidelines, rules, and regulatory standards. The report says that besides the obvious threat posed by cyberterrorism, even a small-scale incident could have a negative effect on public opinion concerning the nuclear industry and its future.