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Russian Actors Target Water Systems in Norway and Poland

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1 unique sources, 1 articles

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Russian state-sponsored actors have targeted water systems in Norway and Poland, exploiting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. On August 13, Norway's counter-intelligence agency attributed an April attack on a dam to Russian hackers, who opened a flood gate, releasing 500 liters of water per second for about four hours. The attack demonstrates the potential for water systems to be used as geopolitical pawns. Poland also reported a similar attack on a large city's water supply, which could have been shut down. The incidents highlight the increasing focus of nation-state actors on water utilities, which are often underfunded and lack robust security measures. This trend is part of a broader pattern of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, with significant implications for national security and public safety.

Timeline

  1. 15.08.2025 16:00 1 articles · 1mo ago

    Russian Actors Target Water Systems in Norway and Poland

    On August 13, 2025, Norway's counter-intelligence agency attributed an April attack on a dam to Russian hackers, who opened a flood gate, releasing 500 liters of water per second for about four hours. The attack demonstrated the potential for water systems to be used as geopolitical pawns. Poland also reported a similar attack on a large city's water supply, which could have been shut down. The incidents highlight the increasing focus of nation-state actors on water utilities, which are often underfunded and lack robust security measures. This trend is part of a broader pattern of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, with significant implications for national security and public safety.

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Information Snippets

  • On April 2025, Russian hackers opened a flood gate at a Norwegian dam, releasing 500 liters of water per second for about four hours.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The attack on the Norwegian dam was attributed to Russian state-sponsored actors by Norway's Police Security Service (PST).

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Poland reported a similar attack on a large city's water supply, which could have been shut down.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Water and wastewater systems have attracted significant attention from cyberthreat actors, with one in five utilities in the US reporting a cybersecurity incident in Q1 2025.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Chinese threat groups have also targeted water and power utilities in the US, maintaining persistence on systems for over 300 days.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Water systems often run outdated firmware, use default passwords, and expose remote network services, making them vulnerable to attacks.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The DEF CON Franklin initiative aims to pair cybersecurity experts with small water utilities to address cyber vulnerabilities.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • States like Hawaii and New York are developing strategies to secure and monitor water and wastewater systems using federal funding and consistent regulations.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Adopting foundational controls like the SANS 5 Critical Controls for ICS Cybersecurity can help utilities build a resilient defense posture.

    First reported: 15.08.2025 16:00
    1 source, 1 article
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