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Robert Spencer in PJ Media: Hackers with ‘Syria Ties’ Infiltrate Water Utility’s Control System

Mar 30, 2016 2:41 pm By Robert Spencer

Over at PJ Media today I discuss what may have been yet another attempt to wreak jihad mayhem in the United States:

Tap water

According to The Register, a UK-based news site about tech security and related issues, “hackers infiltrated a water utility’s control system and changed the levels of chemicals being used to treat tap water.”

The hackers had “ties to Syria,” and the attack, although the location of the utility has not been revealed and its name has been changed in reports, seems most likely to have taken place in the United States.

This is yet another indication of how determined jihad terrorists are to murder Americans in large numbers.

Revelation of this attack comes from the March 2016 security breach report published by Verizon Security Solutions, which referred to the water plant that was attacked with the alias “Kemuri Water Company (KWC).” It explained how the hackers had been able to burrow deeply and repeatedly inside the workings of the company. They were only stopped from doing massive damage by their ignorance of how water plants actually operated:

Our endpoint forensic analysis revealed a linkage with the recent pattern of unauthorised crossover. Using the same credentials found on the payment app webserver, the threat actors were able to interface with the water district’s valve and flow control application, also running on the AS400 system. We also discovered four separate connections over a 60-day period, leading right up to our assessment.During these connections, the threat actors modified application settings with little apparent knowledge of how the flow control system worked. In at least two instances, they managed to manipulate the system to alter the amount of chemicals that went into the water supply and thus handicap water treatment and production capabilities so that the recovery time to replenish water supplies increased.

Fortunately, based on alert functionality, KWC was able to quickly identify and reverse the chemical and flow changes, largely minimising the impact on customers. No clear motive for the attack was found.

A likely motive can be easily surmised, however, as The Register report also noted:

“[T]he same hack also resulted in the exposure of personal information of the utility’s 2.5 million customers. There’s no evidence that this has been monetised or used to commit fraud.”

That, along with the manipulation of the chemicals, essentially rules out the possibility that the hackers’ motivation was simple identity theft. These hackers with ties to Syria (possibly implying the Islamic State, which has repeatedly stated its desire to murder American civilians) were likely trying to figure out a way to poison the water supply and kill people in large numbers.

It has long been known that jihadis have considered poisoning the water supply in a major American city:

  • As far back as 2002, the feds arrested two jihadis who were carrying plans about how to poison water supplies.
  • In 2003, al-Qaeda threatened to poison water supplies in Western countries.
  • In 2011, a Muslim in Spain planned to poison water supplies.
  • In May 2013, seven Muslim “chemical engineers” were caught trespassing at the Quabbin Reservoir, a key supply of water for Boston, after midnight. Only months later — and indirectly — did the public hear that it was a “criminal matter.” A month later, locks were cut at the aqueduct that supplies water to Greater Boston.
  • Also in May 2013, jihadists were caught in Canada who had considered poisoning the air and water to murder up to 100,000 people.
  • In October 2013, the FBI was investigating a possible water supply threat in Wichita.
  • In January 2014, a Muslim broke into a water treatment plant in New Jersey….

Read the rest here.

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Filed Under: Featured, Jihad in the U.S. Tagged With: Verizon Security Solutions


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Comments

  1. Caroline says

    Mar 30, 2016 at 2:58 pm

    This happened in my county in England. People were told not to use the water for anything, not even flushing the toilet. It is was in the news for a couple of days then it all went quiet.It happened this month.

    http://www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk/Thousands-Severn-Trent-customers-South-Derbyshire/story-28906403-detail/story.html

    • jimmi says

      Mar 30, 2016 at 3:02 pm

      thank you!!

    • Ashley says

      Mar 30, 2016 at 5:53 pm

      Wow, Caroline. Only two weeks ago?

      Spooky…

  2. Angemon says

    Mar 30, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    At the very least, this should prompt water and electricity companies to test their IT systems for vulnerabilities.

  3. Michael Copeland says

    Mar 30, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    “It seems to have been a test run, and a highly successful one, of domestic warfare by persons of hostile intent.”
    “Islamic jihad promoters have, on their websites, recommended poisoning water supplies.”
    From “Attacks on Utilities” at Liberty GB
    http://www.libertygb.org.uk/news/attacks-utilities

    • sham says

      Mar 31, 2016 at 12:05 pm

      Don’t spread the disease to public people:

      Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 56 :: Hadith 679

      Narrated Usama bin Zaid:

      Allah’s Apostle said, “Plague was a means of torture sent on a group of Israelis (or on some people before you). So if you hear of its spread in a land, don’t approach it, and if a plague should appear in a land where you are present, then don’t leave that land in order to run away from it (i.e. plague).”

      Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 86 :: Hadith 103
      Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 86 :: Hadith 103
      Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amir bin Rabi’a:

      ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab left for Sham, and when he reached a placed called Sargh, he came to know that there was an outbreak of an epidemic (of plague) in Sham. Then ‘AbdurRahman bin ‘Auf told him that Allah’s Apostle said, “If you hear the news of an outbreak of an epidemic (plague) in a certain place, do not enter that place: and if the epidemic falls in a place while you are present in it, do not leave that place to escape from the epidemic.” So ‘Umar returned from Sargh.

      Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 86 :: Hadith 104
      Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 86 :: Hadith 104
      Narrated ‘Amir bin Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas:

      That he heard Usama bin Zaid speaking to Sa’d, saying, “Allah’s Apostle mentioned the plague and said, ‘It is a means of punishment with which some nations were punished and some of it has remained, and it appears now and then. So whoever hears that there is an outbreak of plague in some land, he should not go to that land, and if the plague breaks out in the land where one is already present, one should not run away from that land, escaping from the plague.”
      Muslim :: Book 26 : Hadith 5493
      ‘Amir b. Sa’d b. Abu Waqqas reported on the authority of his father that he asked Usama b. Zaid: What have you heard from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) about plague? Thereupon Usama said: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Plague is a calamity which was sent to Bani Isra’il or upon those who were before you. So when you hear that it has broken out in a land, don’t go to it, and when it has broken out in the land where you are, don’t run out of it. In the narration transmitted on the authority of Abu Nadr there is a slight variation of wording.

      Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 56 :: Hadith 679
      Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 71 :: Hadith 624,625,626
      Malik :: Book 45 : Hadith 45.7.23,45.7.24

      2: 177. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masâkin (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.) in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are Al¬Muttaqûn
      YES I AM LIKE TO BEING AN AL-MUTTAQUN…………….

  4. Norwegian says

    Mar 30, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    I once read a norwegian report on these things. Written by som branch of the military.

    It concluded with two things for the most part.

    -We have very few examples of this so we give a F…

    Thats is true but very lazy and irresponsible, or at least not very visionary. But islams warriors had nothing like IS then. I think this report was from 2005 or arounf that time.

    -It is close to impossible to do it.

    That is true. It is, because. You would need a shitload of something less toxic. Like 30 tankertrucks++. Then someone will notice and stop them. Other alternative is to put less of something extremly poison in the water. But those are substabces terrorists at that time where unlikly to get. And the cleaning-stations are supossed to autodetect anomlalies.

    But this is never the less something to take serious now. Just as much as the security on nuclearplants. Worry…and I have a bad feeling now. Something is on the way. Just calm before the storm. Hope It is just a feeling and nothing more…

    But then again. All this could have been avoided in the first place if …

  5. More Ham Ed says

    Mar 30, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    Water filters. You can get ’em online or at Home Depot. I’ve been using one for years. It provides great filtered water for cleaning and cooking (ham & eggs, bacon, sausage, BLTs, smoked ham omelets etc). Don’t forget to change the filter every 3 months!

  6. Ed Jones says

    Mar 31, 2016 at 12:54 am

    Any public utility or manufacturing entity that makes their SCADA systems internet-accessable are moronic idiots. I know someone who works for an electric utility in California, and he tells me that their control systems communicate over private lines that have absolutely no connection to the internet. None of the commonly used operating systems – Windows, Linux, Apple (which is UNIX), or in this case, OS400 (AS400 is the hardware, OS400 is the operating system) – are safe from hackers.

  7. particolor says

    Mar 31, 2016 at 6:25 am

    This Water tastes Weird ?? I think its been Halaled ! 🙁 🙁

  8. sham says

    Mar 31, 2016 at 11:53 am

    # jihad terrorists are to murder Americans in large numbers………….

    Fight only with warrior, not innocent people:
    Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 280
    Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 280
    Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri:

    When the tribe of Bani Quraiza was ready to accept Sad’s judgment, Allah’s Apostle sent for Sad who was near to him. Sad came, riding a donkey and when he came near, Allah’s Apostle said (to the Ansar), “Stand up for your leader.” Then Sad came and sat beside Allah’s Apostle who said to him. “These people are ready to accept your judgment.” Sad said, “I give the judgment that their warriors should be killed
    Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 74 :: Hadith 278

    Mischief through the land/violence/terrorism/killing/oppression prohibited:

    2: 205. And when he turns away (from you “O Muhammad SAW “), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief.
    7: 56. And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good doers.
    7: 85……..Verily, a clear proof (sign) from your Lord has come unto you; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not men in their things, and do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order, that will be better for you, if you are believers.
    11: 116. If only there had been among the generations before you, persons having wisdom, prohibiting (others) from Al-Fasâd (disbelief, polytheism, and all kinds of crimes and sins) in the earth, except a few of those whom We saved from among them. Those who did wrong pursued the enjoyment of good things of (this worldly) life, and were Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers in Allâh, polytheists, sinners, etc.).
    13: 25. And those who break the Covenant of Allâh, after its ratification, and sever that which Allâh has commanded to be joined (i.e. they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives), and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse (i.e. they will be far away from Allâh’s Mercy); And for them is the unhappy (evil) home (i.e. Hell).
    26: 151. “And follow not the command of Al-Musrifûn
    152. “Who make mischief in the land, and reform not.”
    26: 183. “And defraud not people by reducing their things, nor do evil, making corruption and mischief in the land.
    28: 83. That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqûn .
    29: 36. And to (the people of) Madyan (Midian), We sent their brother Shu’aib (Shuaib). He said: “O my people! Worship Allâh, and hope for (the reward of good deeds by worshipping Allâh Alone, on) the last Day, and commit no mischief on the earth as Mufsidûn (those who commit great crimes, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).
    47: 22. Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship?
    23. Such are they whom Allâh has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.
    24. Do they not then think deeply in the Qur’ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?
    25. Verily, those who have turned back (have apostate) as disbelievers after the guidance has been manifested to them, Shaitân (Satan) has beautified for them (their false hopes), and (Allâh) prolonged their term (age).

    • Angemon says

      Apr 1, 2016 at 7:30 am

      sham posted:

      “Fight only with warrior, not innocent people:”

      Are the people who pay for the government that leads the American Army considered to be “innocents” under islam?

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