OAN’s Brooke Mallory
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:07 p.m.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a warning that cyber attacks against water utilities across the country are becoming more frequent and severe.
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The agency also called on local water systems to take immediate action to minimize cybersecurity vulnerabilities and protect the nation’s public drinking water supplies.
The EPA said in a news release Monday that it has issued an enforcement alert outlining “emergent cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities” to regional drinking water systems. The notice states that the vast majority (more than 70%) of water systems assessed by the EPA since last September have violated Safe Drinking Water Act regulations.
According to the EPA, the Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted to protect public health by controlling the nation’s public drinking water supplies.
The government found “alarming” cybersecurity flaws in some of the water systems it assessed.
The alert further states that the agency found that certain water systems did not update default passwords, did not block access to former employees, and only used a single login for all staff that may have been compromised.
Despite the fact that many of the EPA’s regulations aimed at protecting water systems are “basic cyber hygiene practices,” the agency notes that a hack could have a significant impact not only on water utilities but also on consumers. He said that there is a possibility of giving.
“EPA has issued this alert because the frequency and severity of threats and attacks on the nation’s water systems are increasing, reaching a level where additional action is warranted,” the agency said.
Power companies in Pennsylvania and Texas have recently been the targets of cyberattacks by groups believed to have ties to Iran and Russia.
“Protecting our nation’s drinking water is fundamental to EPA’s mission, and we are committed to using all tools, including enforcement authorities, to ensure our nation’s drinking water is protected from cyberattacks.” EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe said in a statement. . “EPA’s new enforcement warning helps communities understand the urgency and severity of cyberattacks and ensures water systems are prepared to deal with these serious threats to our nation’s public health. This is the latest step the Biden-Harris administration is taking to do so.
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