presence
10-22-2013, 01:32 PM
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/18/us-usa-crime-wichita-idUSBRE99H17I20131018
FBI investigates possible water supply threat in Wichita, Kansas
By Alice Mannette
WICHITA, Kansas | Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:46pm EDT
(Reuters) - The FBI is investigating possible threats to the water supply systems in Wichita, Kansas, and several other Midwestern cities that are as yet unsubstantiated, a spokeswoman said on Friday.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation learned of the threats in the past two days and has contacted the water supply facilities and law enforcement offices for the municipalities, said Bridget Patton, a spokeswoman for the FBI office in Kansas City, Missouri.
Patton declined to discuss the nature of the threats or the number of cities affected. She said investigators had been sent out in response to the reports, but offered no details.
"We were made aware of the threat," Patton said. "We have not been able to substantiate any of the threats."
Wichita city officials warned employees in emails to be on guard for suspicious activities. City officials also told residents the water is safe to drink and the public will be notified immediately if this changes.
Wichita Police Lieutenant Doug Nolte said Friday that the city had taken steps to keep the city's water supply safe, but would not describe what measures had been taken.
Wichita draws much of its water from the Cheney Reservoir about 30 miles west of the city. The city water department has not returned calls regarding security measurements taken.
(Reporting by Alice Mannette; Editing by David Bailey and Richard Chang)
flashback to 2002
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/319
FBI Issues Water Supply Cyberterror Warning
Kevin Poulsen, SecurityFocus 2002-01-30
Al-Qaida terrorists have scoured the Web for information on the computerized systems that control water distribution and treatment, NIPC warns.
Members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network have sought information on the Web about the networks that U.S. utility companies use to remotely control water supply distribution and treatment systems, according to a bulletin issued by the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) Wednesday.
"U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies have received indications that Al-Qaida members have sought information on Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems available on multiple SCADA-related Web sites," reads the bulletin. "They specifically sought information on water supply and wastewater management practices in the U.S. and abroad."
SCADA systems allow utility companies and municipalities to monitor and direct equipment at unmanned facilities from a central location. Dedicated communications channels link a control center to hundreds of "remote terminal units," which in turn control water pumps and other equipment.
The NIPC bulletin went to some 3,000 members of the center's InfraGard program, an information-sharing partnership between the NIPC and private industry.
An FBI spokesman emphasized that the bulletin is not a full blown alert. "It just says be on the lookout," says FBI supervisory special agent Steven Berry. "There's some information that suggests that they [al-Qaida] are looking at this... There are potential interests in water supplies, and other infrastructures."
Automated water supply control systems have long been a subject of concern from U.S. infrastructure protection specialists, who fear that they could be hacked by foreign governments or terrorists. A 1997 report by the Clinton administration's Presidential Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection noted, "Cyber vulnerabilities include the increasing reliance on SCADA systems for control of the flow and pressure of water supplies."
If terrorists are able to penetrate such a system, the danger could extend beyond merely interrupting water flow.
"If they had the time to infiltrate and get the knowledge, certainly they could create havoc," says Brian Brewer, a senior engineer at ECS Engineering, a Pacific Northwest company that specializes in building SCADA systems for water utilities. "Other than turning pumps off,
typically there are chemicals that are injected, like chlorine or fluoride.
If you overdose any of that into a water system,
it can affect it, and you can hurt people."
http://www.ksn.com/news/local/city-of-wichita-on-alert-after-potential-threat-to-water-system
City of Wichita on alert after potential threat to water system
Published: Friday, October 18, 2013, 9:08 PM CDT
WICHITA, Kansas -- The FBI notified the City of Wichita of the potential threat a couple of days ago.
The FBI are not going into specifics about the threat, but city officials want to reassure residents that the water is safe to drink and use.
The City of Wichita sells millions of gallons of water each year to several nearby communities like Derby and Valley Center.
But now Wichita's water system along with systems in three other cities in the mid-west are being looked at closely after the FBI received word of a potential threat.
"The FBI as of our law enforcement agencies take any threats to the public personal safety very seriously," said Bridget Patton, Media Representative for the FBI.
For the last several days,
the FBI has been looking into a regional water threat.
KSN News learned the potential hazard affects four major water systems in the mid-west including Wichita.
"As a precautionary measure, the FBI made contact with the water supply systems and visited those facilities to ensure they were aware of threats that were made," said Patton.
Federal investigators can't comment on the specifics of the threats because it's an ongoing investigation.
Investigators say they did not find any harmful evidence to support the threat.
"At this point in the investigation we have not be able to substantiate any portion of the threat to area water supply systems," said Patton.
El Dorado Water and Wastewater Treatment Superintendent Brett Prerry tells KSN News the FBI reached out to El Dorado letting them know about the potential threat and to be on alert.
Perry says he reached out to several department heads and city employees telling them to remain vigilant and to
be on the look out for any bizarre activities near fire hydrants or water facilities.
"This would be the normal protocol that we would do when a threat of this nature come in," said Patton.
FBI investigates possible water supply threat in Wichita, Kansas
By Alice Mannette
WICHITA, Kansas | Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:46pm EDT
(Reuters) - The FBI is investigating possible threats to the water supply systems in Wichita, Kansas, and several other Midwestern cities that are as yet unsubstantiated, a spokeswoman said on Friday.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation learned of the threats in the past two days and has contacted the water supply facilities and law enforcement offices for the municipalities, said Bridget Patton, a spokeswoman for the FBI office in Kansas City, Missouri.
Patton declined to discuss the nature of the threats or the number of cities affected. She said investigators had been sent out in response to the reports, but offered no details.
"We were made aware of the threat," Patton said. "We have not been able to substantiate any of the threats."
Wichita city officials warned employees in emails to be on guard for suspicious activities. City officials also told residents the water is safe to drink and the public will be notified immediately if this changes.
Wichita Police Lieutenant Doug Nolte said Friday that the city had taken steps to keep the city's water supply safe, but would not describe what measures had been taken.
Wichita draws much of its water from the Cheney Reservoir about 30 miles west of the city. The city water department has not returned calls regarding security measurements taken.
(Reporting by Alice Mannette; Editing by David Bailey and Richard Chang)
flashback to 2002
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/319
FBI Issues Water Supply Cyberterror Warning
Kevin Poulsen, SecurityFocus 2002-01-30
Al-Qaida terrorists have scoured the Web for information on the computerized systems that control water distribution and treatment, NIPC warns.
Members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network have sought information on the Web about the networks that U.S. utility companies use to remotely control water supply distribution and treatment systems, according to a bulletin issued by the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) Wednesday.
"U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies have received indications that Al-Qaida members have sought information on Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems available on multiple SCADA-related Web sites," reads the bulletin. "They specifically sought information on water supply and wastewater management practices in the U.S. and abroad."
SCADA systems allow utility companies and municipalities to monitor and direct equipment at unmanned facilities from a central location. Dedicated communications channels link a control center to hundreds of "remote terminal units," which in turn control water pumps and other equipment.
The NIPC bulletin went to some 3,000 members of the center's InfraGard program, an information-sharing partnership between the NIPC and private industry.
An FBI spokesman emphasized that the bulletin is not a full blown alert. "It just says be on the lookout," says FBI supervisory special agent Steven Berry. "There's some information that suggests that they [al-Qaida] are looking at this... There are potential interests in water supplies, and other infrastructures."
Automated water supply control systems have long been a subject of concern from U.S. infrastructure protection specialists, who fear that they could be hacked by foreign governments or terrorists. A 1997 report by the Clinton administration's Presidential Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection noted, "Cyber vulnerabilities include the increasing reliance on SCADA systems for control of the flow and pressure of water supplies."
If terrorists are able to penetrate such a system, the danger could extend beyond merely interrupting water flow.
"If they had the time to infiltrate and get the knowledge, certainly they could create havoc," says Brian Brewer, a senior engineer at ECS Engineering, a Pacific Northwest company that specializes in building SCADA systems for water utilities. "Other than turning pumps off,
typically there are chemicals that are injected, like chlorine or fluoride.
If you overdose any of that into a water system,
it can affect it, and you can hurt people."
http://www.ksn.com/news/local/city-of-wichita-on-alert-after-potential-threat-to-water-system
City of Wichita on alert after potential threat to water system
Published: Friday, October 18, 2013, 9:08 PM CDT
WICHITA, Kansas -- The FBI notified the City of Wichita of the potential threat a couple of days ago.
The FBI are not going into specifics about the threat, but city officials want to reassure residents that the water is safe to drink and use.
The City of Wichita sells millions of gallons of water each year to several nearby communities like Derby and Valley Center.
But now Wichita's water system along with systems in three other cities in the mid-west are being looked at closely after the FBI received word of a potential threat.
"The FBI as of our law enforcement agencies take any threats to the public personal safety very seriously," said Bridget Patton, Media Representative for the FBI.
For the last several days,
the FBI has been looking into a regional water threat.
KSN News learned the potential hazard affects four major water systems in the mid-west including Wichita.
"As a precautionary measure, the FBI made contact with the water supply systems and visited those facilities to ensure they were aware of threats that were made," said Patton.
Federal investigators can't comment on the specifics of the threats because it's an ongoing investigation.
Investigators say they did not find any harmful evidence to support the threat.
"At this point in the investigation we have not be able to substantiate any portion of the threat to area water supply systems," said Patton.
El Dorado Water and Wastewater Treatment Superintendent Brett Prerry tells KSN News the FBI reached out to El Dorado letting them know about the potential threat and to be on alert.
Perry says he reached out to several department heads and city employees telling them to remain vigilant and to
be on the look out for any bizarre activities near fire hydrants or water facilities.
"This would be the normal protocol that we would do when a threat of this nature come in," said Patton.