Origin
On Feb. 8, 2021, officials from Florida’s Pinellas County held a news conference in which they announced that “an unlawful intrusion into the city of Oldsmar computer system that [controls] its water treatment plant” had occurred a few days prior on Feb. 5. The intruder was allegedly able to initiate a hundredfold increase in the concentration of a chemical used to balance water pH at a water treatment facility in the gulf coast town of Oldsmar, Florida.
As reported by Wired, the assertions “have yet to be corroborated firsthand by external security auditors,” but local law enforcement officials say that computer logs support the finding, which was first reported by an employee of the plant. Here is everything we know about the incident at this time.
Oldsmarâs water supply attack is a warning, experts say. It couldâve been worse.
Instead of causing widespread injury or loss of life, the attack could stand as a huge red flag marking quietly pervasive flaws in national security.
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The Bruce T. Haddock Water Treatment Plant is seen Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 in Oldsmar. Local and federal authorities are investigating after an attempt Friday to poison the city of Oldsmarâs water supply, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Monday. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
Updated Feb. 10
An attack on Oldsmarâs water supply last week highlighted cybersecurity expertsâ longstanding concerns about the security of the countryâs critical infrastructure.