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The real threat to global critical infrastructure is not enemy states or organisations but squirrels.
Cris Thomas has been tracking power cuts caused by animals since 2013.
Squirrels, birds, rats and snakes have been responsible for more than 1,700 power cuts affecting nearly 5 million people, he told a security conference.
He explained that by tracking these issues, he was seeking to dispel the hype around cyber-attacks.
His Cyber Squirrel 1 project was set up to counteract what he called the "ludicrousness of cyber-war claims by people at high levels in government and industry", he told the audience at the Shmoocon security conference in Washington.
Squirrels topped the list with 879 "attacks", followed by:
- birds - 434
- snakes - 83
- raccoons - 72
- rats - 36
- martens - 22
- frogs - three
He concludes that the damage done by real cyber-attacks - Stuxnet's destruction of Iranian uranium enrichment centrifuges and disruption to Ukrainian power plants being the most high profile - was tiny compared to the "cyber-threat" posed by animals.
Also at Arstechnica
(Score: 2) by Sulla on Friday January 20 2017, @02:24PM
In keeping with the drumbeat to war with Russia, did the report correctly identify them as Red Squirrels?
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 20 2017, @04:11PM
Wait . . . Russia?
Didn't the China Global Times say just days ago that Trump's cabinet picks were risking a major war with China?
Now I'm confused.
Londo Mollari: Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts. Only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of idiots would fight a war on twelve fronts.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by Sulla on Friday January 20 2017, @05:33PM
Why not both. If the establishment fails to get us embroiled in a conflict with Russia they will need to have a backup plan in funding the military industrial complex.
That and I don't think of the Chinese as Reds.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by dry on Saturday January 21 2017, @02:38AM
America is a democracy and just spent a couple of years arguing whether to go to war with Russia or China. While it was a close election, the choice was China. They also voted to escalate their war on the middle east and start a new war with Mexico.
Isn't democracy great at making intelligent decisions.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 21 2017, @03:36AM
If only it was actual democracy in action... Instead we have a bullshit puppet show and the responsibility if foisted on to the people who threw their vote down instead of up.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 21 2017, @12:37AM
Hans Blix is on a mission to find out. If he finds a stockpile of nuts in Russia it will be confirmed.