Poland's energy grid was targeted by never-before-seen wiper malware

10 hours ago (arstechnica.com)

If you're looking for what the damage was, it failed.

Potential damage: "Most notable was one [attack] in Ukraine in December 2015. It left roughly 230,000 people without electricity for about six hours during one of the coldest months of the year."

My first pass through the title was "Those windshield wipers shouldn't need to be internet-connected."

Thankfully, the article did clear that up, but the fact that my brain didn't even think, "that's a stupid idea that no one would buy that" is a bit depressing.

Assuming that Ukraine cyber attacks (novel/0-day) on the Russian energy grid must be happening, I don't often hear of this happening there.

Why not?? Is Russia's grid infrastructure so old as to not be as vulnerable?

The Jaguar hack cost the UK $2.5Bn and dropped production to levels you'd normally only see during open warfare. Recovery took many months, and the financial damage persists today.

We still operate with a primitive homunculi where a gunshot is considered aggressive, but sabotaging infrastructure that can kill hundreds from cold is being waved at.

For what purpose? Cui bono?

  • Poland is a major logistical hub for everything going towards Ukraine. Thus targeting basic infrastructure like energy grid or railroad have to be expected.

    On the bright side, using these weapon grade malware is burning exploits and also showing current state and techniques of Russian cyberwarfare which defender can learn a lot from.

    • While there's some overlap in methodologies and back-and-forth with various escalations, so-called malware is distinct from software exploits. Malware can be delivered without an exploit and quite often is. Social engineering is highly effective.

    • > On the bright side, using these weapon grade malware is burning exploits and also showing current state and techniques of Russian cyberwarfare which defender can learn a lot from.

      Or perhaps they used an already-known malware to measure defensive capabilities without showing any of their cards.

      2 replies →

  • Russia is at war with Europe.

    • before anyone jumps on the pedantry bandwagon, its worth noting that even though open war hasn’t been called: the attacks on infrastructure especially cyber warfare is extremely active and, crucially, direct.

      It is totally fair to say that in a digital context, Russia is absolutely at war with Europe.

      As far as I can tell, they don’t even try to hide it.

      36 replies →

    • Does Europe overall feel and act like that’s the case though?

      It seems as if the European war has been pushed to the background recently, and most people kind of forgot about it. If you walk down the streets of Paris or Berlin does it look like it’s wartime, do people talk about it much, do they share the latest front news and so on?

      10 replies →

    • have you seen the competence in those who manage the infrastructure? i'd say i would need significant proof before assuming anything. And IF russia is doing it, I would still say that we should put 99% blame on the absolute incompetents running the infrastructure, 1% russia.

      4 replies →

  • The most obvious answer is Russia(or one of their allies like China or Iran) did it because Poland is supporting Ukraine in the war (directly, and also indirectly by letting stuff from other countries be staged and move through Poland).

    • That would be the most obvious answer, but Russia wants to keep Poland off-balance over the next 2 decades so that they won't intervene as Russia captures its neighbors. You'll see a lot more sabotage in France if Europe agrees to a new nuclear defense pact.

  • Russia is currently focused at striking Ukrainian energy assets. Ukraine get energy imports from EU through Hungary and Poland. Hampering energy supply from Poland would but a huge strain on the already struggling Ukrainian network.

With all the other crazy world-destroying us bullshit, is this also you? 50% you, 50% russia. It's an new gameshow, is it Russian or us?