Computer virus in Australian power grid
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the infection has forced Integral Energy to rebuild all 1,000 of its desktop computers before the "particularly sinister" computer virus spreads further.
A Integral Energy spokesman told journalists that the company had called in external information security experts to "rebuild all desktop computers to contain and remove the virus," adding that the malware had not affected power supplies to customers or business data and was "contained within Integral Energy's information technology network."
Hacklabs security consultant Chris Gatford commented, "The risk of having a virus in this type of environment is it might affect the operation of the power grid if the virus was to infiltrate the process control network. I think they're to be commended for this extreme reaction when dealing with something that could potentially affect the supply of energy."
Related News
UK Lockdown knocks daily electricity demand by 10 per cent
LONDON - Daily electricity demand in Britain is around 10% lower than before the country went into lockdown last week due to the coronavirus outbreak, data from grid operator National Grid showed on Tuesday.
The fall is largely due to big industrial consumers using less power, the operator said.
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Britons to stay at home to halt the spread of the virus, imposing curbs on everyday life without precedent in peacetime.
Morning peak demand has fallen by nearly 18% compared to before the lockdown was introduced and the normal morning peak is later than usual because the…
