Event description

Hackers have interfered with the system that forecasts energy consumption in State F. The attack affected not only the OffEnergo power supplier but also energy-intensive industries, including the MetalliKO iron and steel works.

The system is based on a model that analyzes actual data and calculates probable consumption figures. The procedure was interrupted during data processing, which resulted in an output that was far from accurate. Energy consumers suffered significant losses due to poor forecasting.

For now, other industrial enterprises in State F postponed the integration of the model indefinitely as they want to be sure that the system operates without issues and intruders can no longer compromise its security.

Consequences

1. Deception of employees
2. Financial damage
3. System failures

Event description

OffEnergo is reportedly having hard times: the energy supplier is accused of fraud in relation to electricity metering and faces the risk of losing its license. Several homeowners associations filed lawsuits against OffEnergo, demanding fair calculation of the actual amount of electricity consumed by their households. Unjustifiably high bills didn’t sit well with the MetalliKO iron and steel works either.

OffEnergo claims that unknown intruders are at fault as they managed to spoof the readings in the electricity metering system. At this point, the matter will have to be settled in court.

Consequences

1. Financial damage
2. Litigation
3. Public discontent

This has happened before

BleepingComputer

Energy giant Schneider Electric hit by Cactus ransomware attack

Energy management and automation giant Schneider Electric suffered a Cactus ransomware attack leading to the theft of corporate data, according to people familiar with the matter.

BleepingComputer has learned that the ransomware attack hit the company’s Sustainability Business division earlier this month on January 17.

Event description

Data from the OffEnergo power supply company has been exposed online. The company’s clients are outraged. The leaked data includes contracts, invoices, customer complaints, and internal comments by employees. The latter reveal that OffEnergo doesn’t really care about people and their problems and that its repair crews don’t want to do their jobs. Here are just some of the comments by staff members that struck a nerve with the customers: "There are always issues at this address, it’s so annoying," "They can manage without power for a bit," "Well, the workday ends in one hour so they’ll have to wait till tomorrow." OffEnergo’s customers believe that since they pay their electricity bills on time, any issues should be resolved by the company promptly and effectively.

Federal agencies have already taken control of the situation and are planning to verify OffEnergo’s license. As a result, the company may lose its status as a guaranteed supplier of power in State F.

Consequences

1. Confidential data leak
2. Public discontent

This has happened before

Hayes Connor Solicitors

270,000 users' data hacked from the People’s Energy database following data breach

Edinburgh-based clean energy company People’s Energy have suffered a serious cyberattack, resulting in their entire database being stolen. This database included sensitive personal details on all 270,000 of its customers.

Event description

To calculate fuel consumption more effectively and improve the overall efficiency of the operations, the management of a combined heat and power plant decided to introduce a couple of innovations—namely, to implement a manufacturing execution system (MES) at the facility and install a coal-preparation plant (CPP) in the ash disposal area. The CPP, which is the first of its kind in State F, has already been tested. It can process all the coal waste that accumulates at the power plant over a year. With the CPP, the enterprise can also extract useful components from ash waste and sell them.

These innovations sound great, but they are not flawless. The CPP hasn’t started full-scale operations yet as all attempts to integrate it into the production process via MES have failed. According to the operators, the issue lies in one of the system components responsible for monitoring heating supply parameters: it seems to act on its own from time to time.

Could hackers be to blame for the malfunction? If this is the case, the power plant management should focus not on increasing efficiency, but on strengthening the security of the infrastructure.

Consequences

1. Deception of employees
2. System failures