Poland says hackers breached water treatment plants, and the U.S. is facing the same threat | TechCrunch

"Poland's intelligence service said it detected attacks on five water treatment plants where hackers could have taken control of the industrial equipment inside, including, in the worst case, tampering with the safety of the water supply."

"In 2021, a hacker briefly gained access to a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida and attempted to increase the level of sodium hydroxide - a caustic chemical - to dangerous levels. The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have since warned that water utilities remain a soft target for foreign hackers."

"The report said Polish intelligence thwarted multiple acts of sabotage from Russian government spies and hackers, who targeted military facilities, critical infrastructure (essential systems such as power grids, water supplies, and transportation networks), as well as civilian targets. These attacks, according to the report, may have resulted in fatalities."

""The most serious challenge remains the sabotage activity against Poland, inspired and organized by Russian intelligence services. This threat was (and is) real and immediate. It requires full mobilization," read the report."

Poland’s intelligence service reported attacks on five water treatment plants where hackers could have gained control of industrial equipment, including the possibility of tampering with water safety. Similar threats have occurred in the United States, including a 2021 incident in Oldsmar, Florida, where a hacker attempted to raise sodium hydroxide levels to dangerous amounts. Polish intelligence reported thwarting multiple sabotage attempts linked to Russian government spies and hackers, targeting military facilities, critical infrastructure such as power grids and water supplies, and civilian targets, with possible fatalities. The report emphasized that sabotage activity inspired and organized by Russian intelligence services remains a real and immediate challenge requiring full mobilization. Poland also faced attempts to attack its energy grid, later linked to weak security controls at targeted facilities.

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