American Water hit by cyber attack, takes some systems offline
American Water Works Company, the largest public water and wastewater utility in the United States, has confirmed it suffered a cyberattack that forced it to shut down parts of its infrastructure.
In one 8-K form filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said it detected “unauthorized activity within its computer networks and systems” on October 3, 2024.
It determined that this activity was a “cyber security incident,” which triggered the incident response protocols, which led to the company hiring outside cybersecurity experts to investigate, notifying appropriate law enforcement, and shutting down some systems to limit the damage.
Ransomware or no ransomware
“The company has taken and will continue to take steps to protect its systems and data, including disconnecting or deactivating certain systems,” American Water Works said in the 8-K form, without specifying what the disconnect was. or how long it plans to be. to keep the systems offline.
The company noted that none of its water or wastewater facilities or operations were negatively affected by the incident and that it does not expect the attack to have a material impact, although this may change as the investigation is ongoing.
When a company shuts down parts of its network, it is usually the result of a ransomware attack. However, American Water has not yet confirmed this: “In an effort to protect our customers’ data and prevent further damage to our environment, we have disconnected or deactivated certain systems,” said Ruben Rodriguez, a spokesperson for American Water, in a statement.
“Customers will not be charged while these systems are unavailable,” Rodriguez concluded, without specifying the nature of the attack, adding: “Our dedicated team of professionals is working around the clock to determine the nature and to investigate the extent of the incident. “
American Water provides regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and related services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Its services are essential to millions of Americans and play a critical role in public health and safety.
Via TechCrunch
