Oldsmar (the city in the USA)

2021: In Oldsmar the hacker far off poured out caustic substance in a water utility. The mass tragedy managed to be avoided

In the middle of February, 2021 the unknown malefactor got remote access to the water treatment station in Oldsmar, the State of Florida, and tried to poison a water supply system, having increased sodium hydroxide content to toxic level. Sodium hydroxide, the caustic substance also known as caustic soda, is used for control of acidity and removal of heavy metals from water. In very light doses its existence in water is safe, but in high concentrations it can cause different complications, from irritation of skin to death as a result of severe burns.

The hacker managed to pour out caustic substance in water, however mass infection managed to be avoided. It is reported that the malefactor got remote access to a water supply system approximately for five minutes, and then tried to increase sodium hydroxide level in water more than by 100 times. The operator at waterworks noticed this attempt and manually reduced sodium hydroxide level to proper values.

In Florida the hacker far off poured out caustic substance in a water utility

Officials noted that the population "was not endangered" and that if the operator noticed nothing, when doubling concentration of hydroxide automatic signaling had to work.

Our protocols of monitoring work and work well, - the mayor reported local media. - Even if the hacker would not be caught in the act, in a system there are sensors which would catch level variation of pH and would give the alarm.

It is known that the malefactor got access to a water control system through TeamViewer. Information security specialists remind how important regularly to verify important administrative accounts which control such systems, in particular magazines of alarm signals and systems of critically significant infrastructure. And at identification of cracking or change of the set admissions it is necessary to carry out the analysis of the prime causes to prevent similar events in the future.^[1]

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