A hacker gained access to the water treatment plant in Florida and attempted to increase the level of sodium hydroxide to a dangerous level.
A hacker gained access to the water treatment plant in Florida and attempted to increase the level of sodium hydroxide to a dangerous level.
On Monday Pinellas County, Fla., Sheriff Bob Gualtieri reported at a press conference that the hacker gained control of the operating system at the city’s water treatment facility and had attempted to increase the amount of sodium hydroxide in water from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million.
The hack took place on Friday, with one intrusion occurring early in the morning and a second in the afternoon.
The operator at the treatment centre noticed the chemical being altered with a mouse-controlled by the intruder moved across the screen changing settings and could interfere and reverse it, Gualtieri said.
"At no time was there a significant adverse effect on the water being treated. Importantly, the public was never in danger," Gualtieri said. "Even if the plant operator had not quickly reversed the increased amount of sodium hydroxide, it would have taken between 24 and 36 hours for that water to hit the supply system, and there are redundancies in a place where the water had been checked before it was released."
According to experts, municipal water and other systems are more vulnerable to attacks because the local government’s infrastructure tends to be underfunded.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Secret Service and FBI are currently investigating the breach.
"As industries become more digitally connected we will continue to see more states and criminals target these sites for the impact they have on society," Lee said.
Sodium hydroxide is also known as lye and is the main ingredient in liquid drain cleaners.
The increase in the level of sodium hydroxide in the water would be dangerous for human consumption.
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