Current:Home > ScamsAmerican Water cyberattack renews focus on protecting critical infrastructure-LoTradeCoin
American Water cyberattack renews focus on protecting critical infrastructure
View Date:2024-12-23 23:33:03
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A cyberattack continues to affect the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States, renewing a focus on the importance of protecting critical infrastructure sites.
New Jersey-based American Water paused billing to customers as it announced the cyberattack on Monday. It said it became aware of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and immediately took protective steps, including shutting down certain systems. Water services have been unaffected as protections remained in place Wednesday.
The company — which provides drinking water and sewer services to more than 14 million people in 14 states and on 18 military installations — said it does not believe its facilities or operations were impacted by the attack, although staffers were working “around the clock” to investigate its nature and scope.
The attack against American Water appears to be an “IT focused attack” more than an operational one, according to Jack Danahy, vice president of strategy and innovation at Colchester, Vt.-based NuHarbor Security in Vermont.
“People haven’t traditionally thought of pieces of infrastructure, such as water and wastewater service as being prone to threats, but incidents like this shows how quickly problems could occur,” Danahy said. “As billing and other services have become more accessible to customers in recent years, they’re now exposed to more types of risks and concerns that were not previously there.”
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency urged water systems to take immediate actions this year to protect the nation’s drinking water. About 70% of utilities inspected by federal officials recently violated standards meant to prevent breaches or other intrusions, the EPA said.
veryGood! (114)
Related
- 3 Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib win $42M judgement against defense contractor
- Suspect on motorbike dies after NYPD sergeant throws cooler at him; officer suspended
- Schoolkids in 8 states can now eat free school meals, advocates urge Congress for nationwide policy
- How Katy Perry's Daughter Daisy Has Her Feeling Like She's Living a Teenage Dream
- Bridgerton's Luke Newton Details His Physical Transformation for Season 3's Leading Role
- John Stamos Shares Nude Photo to Celebrate His 60th Birthday in Must-See Thirst Trap
- How Katy Perry's Daughter Daisy Has Her Feeling Like She's Living a Teenage Dream
- Good karma: Washington man saves trapped kitten, wins $717,500 from state lottery
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views
- Jackson Hole: Powell signals additional rate hikes may be necessary to maintain strong economy
Ranking
- Will the NBA Cup become a treasured tradition? League hopes so, but it’s too soon to tell
- Spain's Luis Rubiales didn't 'do the right thing' and resign when asked. Now what, FIFA?
- 'I don’t like the situation': 49ers GM John Lynch opens up about Nick Bosa's holdout
- Shooting in Boston neighborhood wounds at least 7 people
- Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
- What's rarer than a blue moon? A super blue moon — And it's happening next week
- Lionel Messi, Inter Miami face New York Red Bulls in MLS game: How to watch
- Boston man sentenced for opening bank accounts used by online romance scammers
Recommendation
-
Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site
-
5 things to know about US Open draw: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz on collision course
-
What is America's sickest day of the year?
-
Body confirmed to be recent high school graduate who was fishing for lobster in Maine
-
Whoopi Goldberg Shares Very Relatable Reason She's Remained on The View
-
Can Lionel Messi and Inter Miami make the MLS playoffs? Postseason path not easy.
-
3 killed in Southern California bar shooting by former cop who attacked his estranged wife
-
San Diego Padres reliever Robert Suárez suspended for 10 games using banned sticky stuff