<p>US government on March 19 issued a warning to state governors regarding a series of disruptive cyberattacks targeting water and sewage systems across the nation.</p>

<p>US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan "sent a letter to all US Governors inviting state environmental, health and homeland security Secretaries to a convening by their deputies to discuss the urgent need to safeguard water sector critical infrastructure against cyber threats."</p>

<p>This gathering, which will be held on March 21, will aim to shed light on ongoing federal and state initiatives aimed at bolstering cybersecurity measures within the water sector.</p>

<p>The meeting will also delve into key areas where there are gaps in these efforts, emphasising the urgency for states and water systems to promptly take necessary steps.</p>

<p>EPA Administrator Michael S Regan said, “Drinking water and wastewater systems are a lifeline for communities, but many systems have not adopted important cybersecurity practices to thwart potential cyberattacks."</p>

<p>“EPA and NSC take these threats very seriously and will continue to partner with state environmental, health, and homeland security leaders to address the pervasive and challenging risk of cyberattacks on water systems.”</p>

<p>They specifically identified alleged Iranian and Chinese cyber attackers as culprits behind these attacks. The letter referenced a case where hackers, purportedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, successfully disabled a controller at a water facility in Pennsylvania.</p>

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<p>Additionally, they mentioned a Chinese hacking group known as "Volt Typhoon" for compromising the IT infrastructure of numerous critical systems, including drinking water facilities in the US.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Sullivan said,&nbsp;“The Biden Administration has built our national security approach on the foundational integration of foreign and domestic policy, which means elevating our focus on cross-cutting challenges like cybersecurity."</p>

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<p>“We’ve worked across government to implement significant cybersecurity standards in our nation’s critical infrastructure, including in the water sector, as we remain vigilant to the risks and costs of cyber threats. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the EPA to bolster the cybersecurity of America’s water and wastewater systems.”</p>

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<p>"These attacks have the potential to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water, as well as impose significant costs on affected communities," the letter pointed out.</p>
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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US government on March 19 issued a warning to state governors regarding a series of disruptive cyberattacks targeting water and sewage systems across the nation.

US government on March 19 issued a warning to state governors regarding a series of disruptive cyberattacks targeting water and sewage systems across the nation. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan "sent a letter to all US Governors inviting state environmental, health and homeland security Secretaries to a convening by their deputies to discuss the urgent need to safeguard water sector critical infrastructure against cyber threats." This gathering, which will be held on March 21, will aim to shed light on ongoing federal and state initiatives aimed at bolstering cybersecurity measures within the water sector. The meeting will also delve into key areas where there are gaps in these efforts, emphasising the urgency for states and water systems to promptly take necessary steps. EPA Administrator Michael S Regan said, “Drinking water and wastewater systems are a lifeline for communities, but many systems have not adopted important cybersecurity practices to thwart potential cyberattacks." “EPA and NSC take these threats very seriously and will continue to partner with state environmental, health, and homeland security leaders to address the pervasive and challenging risk of cyberattacks on water systems.” They specifically identified alleged Iranian and Chinese cyber attackers as culprits behind these attacks. The letter referenced a case where hackers, purportedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, successfully disabled a controller at a water facility in Pennsylvania. Also Read | South Africa court orders partial freeze on Zuma's accounts Additionally, they mentioned a Chinese hacking group known as "Volt Typhoon" for compromising the IT infrastructure of numerous critical systems, including drinking water facilities in the US. Meanwhile, Sullivan said, “The Biden Administration has built our national security approach on the foundational integration of foreign and domestic policy, which means elevating our focus on cross-cutting challenges like cybersecurity." Also Read | Prabowo Subianto elected as new president of Indonesia “We’ve worked across government to implement significant cybersecurity standards in our nation’s critical infrastructure, including in the water sector, as we remain vigilant to the risks and costs of cyber threats. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the EPA to bolster the cybersecurity of America’s water and wastewater systems.” Watch | NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visits Armenia, calls for peace with Azerbaijan × "These attacks have the potential to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water, as well as impose significant costs on affected communities," the letter pointed out. (With inputs from agencies)

US govt urges state action against cyber threats to water systems

<p>In a joint statement, American and allied intelligence agencies on Wednesday (Feb 7) said that an advanced group of Chinese hackers have been aiming at critical US infrastructure, which has remained active for as long as half a decade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US cyber watchdog CISA, the Transportation Security Administration, the FBI and the US National Security Agency said that the group is called Volt Typhoon.</p>

<p>They added that the group had quietly burrowed into the networks of pipeline, mass transit, highway, aviation, rail, water and sewage organisations.</p>

<p>None of the organisations have been identified by name, however, the statement said that US intelligence officials had observed that the hackers are “maintaining access and footholds within some victim IT environments for at least five years”.</p>

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<p>The statement, which was co-signed by the cybersecurity agencies of different countries, including New Zealand, Canada, Britain and Australia, is the latest in a series of warnings issued regarding Volt Typhoon from US officials.</p>

<h2><strong>White House holds meetings with private technology industry&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Volt Typhoon is a group which has drawn particular alarm since it appears geared toward sabotage and not espionage.</p>

<p>The nature of cyber hacks has forced the White House and the private technology industry to hold a series of meetings, which include various telecommunications and cloud commuting companies. In these meetings, the US government asked for assistance in tracking such activities.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US drone strike kills pro-Iran commander in Baghdad</strong></p>

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<p>“We are extraordinarily concerned about malicious cyber activity from the PRC state-sponsored actor that industry calls Volt Typhoon,” said Eric Goldstein, a senior CISA official, while speaking about the People’s Republic of China to Reuters before the release of the statement.</p>

<p>&nbsp;“Most of the victims we have identified have no legitimate espionage value," Goldstein further said.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a joint statement, American and allied intelligence agencies on Wednesday (Feb 7) said that an advanced group of Chinese hackers have been aiming at critical US infrastructure, which has remained active for as long as half a decade.

In a joint statement, American and allied intelligence agencies on Wednesday (Feb 7) said that an advanced group of Chinese hackers have been aiming at critical US infrastructure, which has remained active for as long as half a decade. The US cyber watchdog CISA, the Transportation Security Administration, the FBI and the US National Security Agency said that the group is called Volt Typhoon. They added that the group had quietly burrowed into the networks of pipeline, mass transit, highway, aviation, rail, water and sewage organisations. None of the organisations have been identified by name, however, the statement said that US intelligence officials had observed that the hackers are “maintaining access and footholds within some victim IT environments for at least five years”. Also Read: China and Russia accuse US of 'interfering' in their country's affairs The statement, which was co-signed by the cybersecurity agencies of different countries, including New Zealand, Canada, Britain and Australia, is the latest in a series of warnings issued regarding Volt Typhoon from US officials. White House holds meetings with private technology industry Volt Typhoon is a group which has drawn particular alarm since it appears geared toward sabotage and not espionage. The nature of cyber hacks has forced the White House and the private technology industry to hold a series of meetings, which include various telecommunications and cloud commuting companies. In these meetings, the US government asked for assistance in tracking such activities. Watch: US drone strike kills pro-Iran commander in Baghdad “We are extraordinarily concerned about malicious cyber activity from the PRC state-sponsored actor that industry calls Volt Typhoon,” said Eric Goldstein, a senior CISA official, while speaking about the People’s Republic of China to Reuters before the release of the statement. “Most of the victims we have identified have no legitimate espionage value," Goldstein further said. (With inputs from agencies)

US claims Chinese hackers infiltrated water systems, trains and planes for five years

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