Cybercriminals can attack infrastructures of all types, compromise the security and privacy of both users and companies, and thus obtain economic benefit. But, to what extent could they affect a home? In this article, we are going to talk to you about how they have launched an attack against the largest water utility company in the United States. It has caused significant problems. Could they leave a home without water?
Specifically, this cyberattack has affected American Water. It has forced this company to close some of its systems, after having suffered a major attack. It provides water services to millions of homes in the United States, so we are dealing with an important company that also operates on the stock market.
Cyberattack on a water services company
According to some security researchers, these cyberattacks would be linked to Russia, which targets water sectors. Logically, the company has gotten to work to see what could have happened and take measures to prevent it from happening again. Generally, this type of attack occurs due to some uncorrected vulnerability.
In many cases, these attacks simply result in the theft of customer information (we have seen this in many cases, in electrical companies and many types), as well as taking down a wide variety of platforms and services. In the latter case, it is common for it to occur after a DDoS attack, something that has also grown in recent years.
But, leaving this specific attack aside, could there be something similar in Spain that even leaves customers without water? Although this is complicated, since the impact is usually at a computer level, such as the theft of information, it does not mean that it cannot occur in certain situations.
For example, a highly intense computer attack could affect systems that are key to the treatment of drinking water. It can paralyze a water purification plant, for example, even momentarily. This can have an impact on the paralysis of the supply and, even for a short period of time, leave a municipality or a certain area without water.
Similar case
In fact, a few years ago, in 2021, there was a computer attack on a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida. In this case, what they tried was to directly poison the water. They were able to interfere with the system to greatly increase the levels of caustic soda in the water and make it dangerous to health. Finally, they could not achieve their objective as they were detected in time.
Similarly, there have been cyberattacks that have compromised health systems, putting hospitals in check. It is another of the most serious risks, and is that a ransomware attack, for example, can paralyze a hospital, resulting in delays in operations or diagnoses.
Therefore, although it is not something simple, and luckily not common, there is a possibility that a cyber attack could leave you without water at home. As we have explained, attacks on certain systems could force the supply to be cut off, at least momentarily.
