Lee, the CEO of the cybersecurity company Dragos Inc., told CNN that “it’s exactly what folks worry about.” It’s Not the First Time But it hadn’t in some time.Īccording to CNN, the hacked software TeamViewer had been dormant for about six months, even though it was still on the system.Īfter about five and a half hours, however, the employee realized that the foreign actor was accessing different programs and changing the levels of lye.īecause of that employee’s awareness, the drinking supply in Oldsmar was not compromised by the time it reached residents. Apparently, the water treatment facility operates with software that allows supervisors to access computers remotely. Last Friday, an employee noticed that someone was controlling his computer. As Joe Biden pushes for more funding into national cybersecurity, events like this prove why it’s so important. | Source: TwitterĪnd he’s absolutely right. It’s not just a little chlorine, or a little fluoride - you’re basically talking about lye.įlorida Senator Marco Rubio said this event should be treated as a “matter of national security.” Marco Rubio is not taking this lightly. Those high levels could’ve made victims severely ill or worse. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County said that the main ingredient in drain cleaner, sodium hydroxide, was increased 100-fold from 100 parts per million to 11,100. That’s because the 15,000 residents of this town were nearly poisoned by a cybercriminal who hacked into their water treatment facility. But if hackers had been able to carry out their plans, it would likely be a name you would never forget. Remember the name, “Oldsmar, Florida.” You probably won’t. Hacker Tries to Poison Drinking Water in Small Florida Town Luckily, employees became aware of the situation before it reached the drinking supply.īut this nightmare scenario makes it abundantly clear that it’s of the utmost importance that we continue to make heavy investments in cybersecurity. A hacker literally poisoned the water at a treatment facility in Florida.

Teamviewer hacked 2021