Timely action avoids cyber attack on TS power systems
Sources said a few electrical sub-stations were affected because of the hackers’ action.
Hyderabad: Attempts by hackers allegedly from China targetting systems and servers of Telangana State Electricity department kept officials on tenterhooks on Tuesday. Sources said a few electrical sub-stations were affected because of the hackers’ action.
The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT- In) had reported from a trusted source that China-based threat actor group command and control servers were trying to communicate with systems belonging to Telangana State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) and TS Transco and advised them to take suitable precautionary measures to ensure security of the power system.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Transco Chairman and Managing Director D. Prabhakar Rao said various measures were taken including blocking server internet protocols (IPs) communicated by CERT-In and temporarily disabling control function for remote operation of circuit breakers from SLDC.
The user credentials for all the users accessing the Telangana State SLDC website were changed and suspected equipment within the perimeter of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) control centre were isolated to ensure safety of the grid and satisfactory power supply to all consumers of the State.
Rao said: “There is no threat to our grid as necessary precautions have already been taken. Our firewalls will also protect if anyone tries to target our systems,” he said.
The department became alert on receiving information from CERT- In and Central Electricity Authority (CEA) about the hackers’ attempts. Various suggestions were also received from CERT- In and CEA on precautions to be taken for the protection of the systems.
The engineers concerned immediately swung into action and changed user identities and passwords for the safety of the systems. “We are on high alert in the wake of the hackers’ attempts,” another official said.
Also read:
Chinese cyber-attack suspected behind Mumbai blackout: Maha Govt
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