(notes below...) > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Richard M. Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Michael Scheidell'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Alan > Kloster'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Geoff Shively'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'Drew > Copley'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 6:35 AM > Subject: Computers crashed just before blackout > > > > http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/106207424 > > 774610.xml > > Computers crashed just before blackout > > > > 08/28/03 > > > > John Funk Teresa Dixon Murray and Tom Breckenridge > > Plain Dealer Reporters > > > > FirstEnergy Corp. could not see mounting transmission line problems in > > the crucial hour before the Aug. 14 blackout because its key computers > > were down, according to at least two municipal electric systems. > > > > Whether the computer troubles were the result of hardware or software > > problems was not known yesterday. Investigators from the Department of > > Energy have visited the utility's Akron control center, said spokesman > > Ralph DiNicola. > > > > FirstEnergy is detailing how the control center computers operated that > > day for the DOE, said DiNicola. He repeatedly declined to say whether > > there were any computer problems. > > > > ...
Yep, looks like the HMI systems (that allow the humans to see warnings and critical situations) and to manually reroute power went down. Bet you 30,000 quatros that those HMI systems communicated to the SCADA systems via DCOM. Time for our lobbiests in DC to get to work, making sure all critical infostructure systems, utilities, water, power, traffic, AIR CONTROL update their best practices Also time for HMI/SCADA/FA vendors to update their clients, and make sure that this won't happen again. Looks like the clients/end users will need to firewall their SCADA/FA systems and forget the microsoft 'COTS' (commercial off the shelf) office/factory integration promise. -- Michael Scheidell, CEO SECNAP Network Security, LLC Sales: 866-SECNAPNET / (1-866-732-6276) Main: 561-368-9561 / www.secnap.net Looking for a career in Internet security? http://www.secnap.net/employment/ _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html