Securing America's Nuclear Power Grids

[Gorilla]

"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) quietly launched a public comment period late last month on a proposed 15-page update to its regulatory guide "Criteria for Use of Computers in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants." The current version, written in 1996, is three pages long and makes no mention of security. "

Full Article Here: http://www.securityfocus.com/news/10353

I wonder what that will mean for non-nuclear energy plants in America. Although everyone wants to forget about the wonderful black out caused by a race condition in code, I think we still may end up vulnerable to malicious attacks on power plants.

Tracking the Black-out Bug

[DBlack]

I totally agree. This administration is fooling us on the real progress and efforts on the so-called war on terror. Our power grides, borders, plants, and harbors are extremely vulnerable.

If someonever got to a nuke plant and was able to damage or destroy it, the consequences are unfathomable.

[jimihaze]

Oh say someone like china or north korea you mean? surly not them they will wait we are busy with war on terror. :whistling just because they have nukes means no one thing. We are big bad america we don't have to protect our nuclear power Grids. We are the big cheese did you not know this? We are so bad we show them where the nuclear plants are at and tell them how they are not protected. Only in America I say.
We just asking to be blown to kingdom come. Once again we(united states) are in the wrong place and worrying about the wrong thing. China and North Korea are the ones that can fight back with the same power. They are the ones that need watching. they are the ones that we should be making our allies also.

[Gorilla]

Actually there are quite a few nuclear powers in the world besides North Korea and China that are in volatile political climates. Theres always India, Pakistan, Iran , France , Britain, Russia and a few more in east africa and the middle east that presently escape me right now. I think the fact that more nations have nuclear weapons keep thinks in check. I also believe we need another opposing world power to put things back into balance. We werent so quick to run off on some bullshit during the Cold War years. But the post wasnt originally about nuclear arms, it was about how vulnerable our power grid is which is vital to the United States. They would make a prime target for information warfare or terrorism before North Korean air strikes or long range cruise missiles. Luckily I'm not on the west coast haha

[Ukali]

Criteria for Use of Computers in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants

This regulatory guide describes a method that the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) deems acceptable for complying with the Commission’s regulations for promoting high functional reliability, design quality, and cyber-security for the use of digital computers in safety systems of nuclear power plants. In this context, the term “computer” identifies a system that includes computer hardware, software, firmware, and interfaces.

Comment: Even as the United States secures its own electrical grid, there is a project underway to link every continent to a global electrical grid that will provide this vital resource to the whole human family.

Global Energy Network Institute