2 New Jersey water utilities targeted in cyberattacks
Hackers targeted internet-exposed systems.
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Two New Jersey water utility systems have been targeted in recent cyberattacks, Homeland Security officials confirmed.
State cybersecurity experts are investigating the incidents, which took place during the past week. According to the state, members of the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell responded to two cyber incidents affecting the state's municipal water systems.
"The investigations found that the incidents involved vulnerable internet-exposed control systems, which temporarily limited operators' ability to monitor or manage them remotely," said Christopher Thoreson, spokesperson for the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
Thoreson said following both incidents, staff members of the utilities "shifted quickly to manual operations," preventing any disruption in water service to residents living in the areas served by the utilities.
"Customers had uninterrupted access to safe drinking water throughout," Thoreson said.
Following the incidents, stronger access controls were put in place to help secure the affected utilities. In addition, the NJCCIC and the FBI are working with the water companies as well as water systems throughout the state to reduce the risk of similar attacks.
State officials did not disclose which municipal water utility companies were targeted in the recent attacks.
