Smart Grid may be vulnerable to hackers

[IDemo]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Is it really so smart to forge ahead with the high technology, digitally based electricity distribution and transmission system known as the "Smart Grid"? Tests have shown that a hacker can break into the system, and cybersecurity experts said a massive blackout could result.

Until the United States eliminates the Smart Grid's vulnerabilities, some experts said, deployment should proceed slowly.

"I think we are putting the cart before the horse here to get this stuff rolled out very fast," said Ed Skoudis, a co-founder of InGuardians, a network security research and consulting firm.

The Smart Grid will use automated meters, two-way communications and advanced sensors to improve electricity efficiency and reliability. The nation's utilities have embraced the concept and are installing millions of automated meters on homes across the country, the first phase in Smart Grid's deployment. President Obama has championed Smart Grid, and the recent stimulus bill allocated $4.5 billion for the high-tech program.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/20/smartgrid.vulnerability/index.html

[mwb970]

1. Our dependence on computers and vast networks will come back to bite us.

Wait till the first major cyber-terror attack brings down the Internet for a month. This country will grind to a halt. Remember which Battlestar ship was impervious to Cylon attack: the one with the old-fashioned, non-networked computers. It's just a show, but this is the reality.

[Deja Q]

3. It's hard to remember a 30 year old show, but I think you mean our dependence on "ease of use".

A homogeneous network, based by and large on Microsoft. Standardizing on *one* platform only makes proliferation of malware easier to accomplish.

Hell, I knew that before they became a monopoly, and I am not in the security biz. Or the hacking one either if anyone cares to know.

[Jeep789]

2. I'm not so sure any of our computer technology has been smart

All this sharing means anyone can find out everything about us (both individually and nationally) and hacking (and thereby sabotage) is far to easy to achieve.

[Deja Q]

4. So was the Large Hadron Collider -- people were scared about the scientists...

Yet more people should be scared over hackers breaking into the system and mucking with core LHC functions.

Incidentally, hackers DID breach the system last year, but were thwarted before they got to the core code.

The LHC was using Linux too. Still is. (Winbloat is impracticable for what they need to do...)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Two possible solution:

128 bit encryption "or" quantum encryption using entangled photons.

http://news.cnet.com/Toshiba-claims-entangled-photon-breakthrough/2100-1008_3-6026098.html
Researchers at Cambridge University and Toshiba have announced a new quantum device that produces entangled photons, a promising technology for quantum encryption.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/rdc/rd/fields/ad_e_03.htm

[LiberalEsto]

6. This is why I support distributed power generation

Creating electric power at or close to the point of use makes a a great deal of sense in more ways than one.

It helps protect against hacking and terrorism, as well as weather, squirrels and other natural hazards that can bring down a power grid.

It protects individual power users from the relentless price increases that come from the greed of executives who demand more and larger bonuses regardless of performance, and from the need to pay startup and cleanup expenses for failed nuclear and coal generating plants, among other factors.

It greatly reduces the loss of energy when electricity travels long distances from generating point to point of use.

This is NOT to say that everyone should have their own little coal, oil, propane or natural gas generator, puffing out clouds of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

We need to invest far more money for research and development of on-site power solutions using solar, wind, wave and other potential clean energy sources. Unfortunately this is exactly what the powerful energy corporations and utilities DON'T want.

[Ready4Change]

7. It would be a trade-off of vulnerabilities

The current grid is fragile, when viewed in terms of tomorrows requirements. Hackers don't NEED to attack it. It will cause issues all on it's own. Further, because of that fragility, anyone wanting to disrupt large areas can do so with attacks on physical locations, which won't require much sophistication. ANd lastly, do you honestly think the current grid can't be hacked? Please.

A smart grid would be vulnerable to future hacking. But at least it would have a step up on protection, versus the existing aged infrastructure. In addition, it would be much more resilient regarding more mundane failures or physical attacks, being better able to re-route power around trouble spots. Plus, since it would better support distributed power, it would better ENCOURAGE distributed power, making it less likely that a physical failure could totally isolate spots.

Preferring the current grid over a future smart grid is like preferring a 1970's Pinto over 2009 Focus. Neither's perfect, but one's going to be significantly better.