[Analog Meters Opt Out Fees – BC Hydro – FortisBC – Hacking Attacks on NHS National Health Service Hospitals – HB 4220 & Gary Glenn – MPSC Michigan Public Service Commission – NSA National Security Agency’s Tailored Access Operations Unit Cyberweapon Eternal Blue (Microsoft Windows Vulnerability) – Privacy – Shadow Brokers – Smart Meters Data Security – US Navy EMR War Games Update – WannaCry / Wanna Decryptor Ransomwares – WHO | BC – Africa – France – India – Japan – Latin America – Russia – Spain – Taiwan – Ukraine – UK – Michigan & Washington (Olympic Peninsula & Port Angeles & Seattle), USA] & (video)
1) In the UK, a large majority of businesses express concern about security of the electrical grid and data given the vulnerability of devices like smeters.
(click on photos to enlarge)
UK firms ‘concerned about cyber-attacks on new energy tech’
“Around two-thirds (65%) of UK businesses are concerned about cyber-attacks as new technologies like smart meters are being installed.
According to a new PwC survey, 51% of more than 500 UK businesses questioned are worried their client data isn’t handled securely enough by their energy supplier.
The concern comes as energy companies are in the process of installing smart meters in both domestic and business properties.”
https://www.energylivenews.com/2017/05/08/uk-firms-concerned-about-cyber-attacks-on-new-energy-tech/
2) A major hack hit hospital systems in the UK today, with the systems being held for ransom, and then began spreading to as many as 74 countries.
Hospitals across the UK hit by ransomware cyber attack, systems knocked offline
“Hospitals across England and Scotland are being forced to postpone appointments and divert patients elsewhere because systems have been taken offline by a ransomware attack in an event NHS England has declared as a ‘major incident’.
In a statement, NHS Digital, which runs IT systems for the health service, has confirmed that systems across the country have been brought down by a ransomware attack – specially by the Wanna Decryptor ransomware.”
The Ransomware Meltdown Experts Warned about is Here!!
A new strain of ransomware has spread quickly all over the world, causing crises in National Health Service hospitals and facilities around England, and gaining particular traction in Spain, where it has hobbled the large telecom company Telefonica, the natural gas company Gas Natural, and the electrical company Iberdrola. You know how people always talk about the Big One? As far as ransomware attacks go, this looks a whole lot like it.
The ransomware strain WannaCry (also known as WanaCrypt0r and WCry) that caused Friday’s barrage appears to be a new variant of a type that first appeared in late March. This new version has only gained steam since its initial barrage, with tens of thousands of infections in 74 countries so far today as of publication time. Its reach extends beyond the UK and Spain, into Russia, Taiwan, France, Japan, and dozens more countries
https://www.wired.com/2017/05/ransomware-meltdown-experts-warned/
It appears the hacking tool was stolen from the US NSA, according to the New York Times.
“The attacks on Friday appeared to be the first time a cyberweapon developed by the N.S.A., funded by American taxpayers and stolen by an adversary had been unleashed by cybercriminals against patients, hospitals, businesses, governments and ordinary citizens.”
“Hackers Hit Dozens of Countries Exploiting Stolen N.S.A. Tool”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/world/europe/uk-national-health-service-cyberattack.html?_r=1
[http://www.zdnet.com/video/ransomware-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-now/]
3) An update from the group in Port Angeles fighting the US Navy’s EMR war games over the Olympic Peninsula (and, no doubt, southern BC including the islands.)
http://www.savetheolympicpeninsula.org/
4) In Seattle, smeters are being planned and resistance is growing. Opt out is allowed for $15 a month, after an initial fee. BC Hydro is still the most expensive.
http://komonews.com/news/local/privacy-concerns-over-city-lights-new-advanced-meters
5) In Michigan, resistance is growing to mandated smeters. We cannot stop our resistance just because we’ve been bullied, intimidated and harassed into having a smeter on our homes. They are still dangerous to our health, safety and security. BC Hydro/FortisBC are hoping we will be compliant, complacent and just forget about this.
Pushback against smart meters continues to grow across the U.S.
“Very little research has been done on the long-term health impacts of smart meter usage, and yet utilities and many legislators insist that the technology is installed for convenience and efficiency purposes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the type of wireless radiation emitted from smart meters a class 2B carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer.
Like in many other states, the Michigan Public Service Commission says that the scientific data is definitive: Smart meters are perfectly safe and people shouldn’t worry about using them or being near them. But this isn’t enough reassurance for the thousands of Michiganders, and the tens of thousands of Americans all across the country, who would prefer to stick to their old analog meters.”
http://newstarget.com/2017-04-25-pushback-against-smart-meters-continues-to-grow-across-the-u-s.html
[http://stopsmartmeters.org/frequently-asked-questions/contacts-database/]
Sharon Noble
Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters
“You will observe with concern how long a useful truth may be known, and exist, before it is generally received and acted on.”
~ Ben Franklin