Local

Attack on water system in Florida raises alarm bells in Oklahoma

Water treatment and supply | KRMG

TULSA — Investigators still don’t know if the hacker who broke into a system at a water treatment plant in Florida over the Super Bowl weekend was foreign or domestic, nor whether that attack was designed to do actual damage, or was simply a misguided experiment.

KRMG IN-DEPTH REPORT: CYBERSECURITY AND THE NATION’S WATER SUPPLY

But the ease with which thousands of similar plants across the country could suffer similar attacks has plant managers and lawmakers taking a hard look at that breach.

Kevin Owens is co-founder of Control Cyber, Inc., and has worked on security issues related to infrastructure for about twenty years.

He tells KRMG the breach makes the need to address possible security issues even more urgent.

“Right now, you have - I would guess - thousands of people right now looking at water systems inside the United States to see what they can do,” Owens told KRMG Tuesday.

HEAR OUR ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN OWENS

He said there are systems scattered across the country that have been hooked into business networks with little or no consideration of the potential risks.

He’s urging lawmakers and plant managers to become aware of the potential danger, and take action.


Listen

news

weather

traffic

mobile apps

Everything you love about krmg.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!