Res19 15781 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• Website defacement • Private and public Web browser exploits • Instant messaging abuse • Intellectual property (IP) theft or unauthorized access Past activity demonstrates that both cyberattacks and the societal cost of them are in increasing. These activities represent a potential threat to the City if they disrupt normal infrastructure services, interfere with emergency communications or curtail commerce. Particularly troubling are potential attacks on industrial control systems that are used to operate critical infrastructure such as potable water treatment and distribution. Indeed, attacks on industrial control systems are considered the "holy grail" of cyberattacks. Examples of cyberattacks that have interfered with normal government and utility functions include: • On April 7, 2017, unknown hackers breached the emergency siren system of Dallas, Texas, repeatedly activating all of the city's 156 sirens for approximately an hour late on a Friday night into the next morning. • On December 2015, the Ukrainian electric grid was cyberattacked and more than 230,000 customers lost power. The power outage was caused by remotely opening protective relays. For reasons only the attackers can provide, the attackers chose not to reclose the relays which could have caused significant long-term damage to Ukraine's electric grid and other critical infrastructures. Cyberattacks may result in cascading effects. Deliberate disruption of power production and distribution systems will result in loss of other critical infrastructure such as water and waste water treatment plants, traffic signals and electric trains. Cyber attacks occur on a daily and continual basis. The potential impacts range from negligible to the loss of all major lifeline infrastructures such as an attack on electric power production of distribution systems.