States and Congress wrestle with cybersecurity at water utilities amid renewed federal warnings
The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa in Pennsylvania fell victim to an international cyber attack executed by Iranian-backed hackers targeting Israeli-made equipment. This incident has brought renewed focus on the urgency of hardening water utilities against cyber attacks, which could potentially shut down or contaminate drinking water supplies. U.S. security officials are growing increasingly concerned about this threat. However, many local water authorities, like Aliquippa’s, struggle to invest in cybersecurity due to lack of funding and expertise. At the state level, legislation to increase scrutiny of cybersecurity measures has been met with resistance from public water authorities, often leading to its downfall. Companies like Dragos Inc. are offering free access to online support and software that helps detect vulnerabilities and threats to small utilities.
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