Russian ‘hacking code’ found on US power firm’s laptop computer
Discovery raises fears of ability to disrupt America, as 35 expelled Russian ‘spies’ go home today
A CODE connected to Russian cyberhackers has been found on an American electricity company’s computer, in further evidence of “predatory” steps taken by Moscow against the US, officials said yesterday.
The discovery came as Russian diplomats and their families prepared to return to Moscow today ahead of a New Year’s Day expulsion deadline set by President Barack Obama.
The malicious software, or malware, found in the Burlington Electric Department system in Vermont, was linked to the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by US officials and raised fears about the vulnerability of America’s electricity grid to cyber attacks.
“This attack shows how rampant Russian hacking is. It’s systemic, relentless, predatory,” said Peter Welch, a Vermont Democratic congressman. “They will hack everywhere, even Vermont, in pursuit of opportunities to disrupt our country.” The company said it had been alerted by the government on Thursday night, carried out a scan and found the malware in one laptop not connected to its grid systems. It said it took action to isolate the particular laptop. The US electricity grid is highly computerised and experts have said disruptions could have disastrous implications for the country’s medical and emergency services. The Russians did not actively use the code to damage the company, according to an official who spoke to the Washington Post. In December 2015, a power failure that plunged parts of western Ukraine into the dark, was found to have been caused by a cyber attack. The Russians were accused of the incident, which they denied. The development follows a climax of hostilities between Mr Obama and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.
On Thursday, the White House ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in cyber attacks that US intelligence officials say influenced November’s presidential election.
Mr Obama also closed down two diplomatic compounds in New York and Maryland. Mr Putin decided not to retaliate with tit-for-tat expulsions, saying Russia’s next steps would be based on the policies of president-elect Donald Trump when he takes office on Jan 20.
The deadline for the diplomatic expulsions was set to expire at noon local time today, with officials leaving the Russian consulate in California and its embassy in Washington.
The consulate in San Francisco wrote in a Facebook post that it was saying goodbye to “close to a dozen” staff and their families. One of the suspected intelligence operatives named for expulsion was the consulate’s chef, it said.
The Kremlin announced it was sending its Rossiya Special Flight Squadron aircraft, part of a fleet used by Mr Putin, to bring its officials home. Last night, boxes were seen being loaded on to a Russian plane at Dulles International airport, near Washington.
Mr Putin said in his New Year greeting yesterday that 2016 had been a “difficult” year, but congratulated his country on its accomplishments.
“We are working, working successfully, and are accomplishing a lot,” Mr Putin said, extending a special greeting to those working far from home. The past year “was difficult, but the difficulties we came across united us,” he said.
Mr Trump yesterday slipped the press pool designated, as tradition dictates, to accompany him now that he is president-elect, so he could play a private round of golf at one of his clubs.
His schedule had him spending New Year’s Eve at his Mar-A-Lago club, but a member of his golf club in Jupiter, Florida, tweeted a photograph of him on the green on Saturday morning.
Mr Trump also left his press pool behind earlier this year to dine in a New York restaurant.