Homeland Security has warned U.S. utilities that the computer networks controlling natural gas pipelines have been under attack since December, according to news reports out of Washington.
Canadian pipelines may also be affected by the cyber intrusion campaign, according to confidential Homeland Security alerts first reported by the Christian Science Monitor.
A Homeland Security spokesman today told The Hill that DHS is working with the FBI and other federal agencies to address the spear-phishing attacks, which involve fraudulent e-mails sent to gas company employees. The companies were not named.
DHS has issued at least three "amber" alerts -- the second-highest warning -- since March 29. Those warnings were reiterated late Friday in a report from Homeland Security's Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team based in Idaho.
ICS-CERT has recently identified an active series of cyber intrusions targeting natural gas pipeline sector companies. Multiple natural gas pipeline organizations have reported either attempts or intrusions related to this campaign. The campaign appears to have started in late December 2011 and is active today.
But DHS has asked utilities to not remove any malware or patch security holes if they don't jeopardize safe operations, according to people who have seen the alerts. One would expect stronger Security Solutions to be put in place once this is resolved.
The newspaper says that about 200,000 miles of pipelines deliver 25% of U.S. energy.
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