WASHINGTON: No USnuclear power plant has beenpenetrated in a cyber attack, an industry spokesman said onSaturday, when asked to comment on a USgovernment warninglast week about a hacking campaign targeting the sector.
The USDepartment of Homeland Security and Federal Bureauof Investigation said in a report dated Wednesday that nuclearsector was among those targeted in a hacking campaign data backto at least May.
Hackers used "phishing" emails to obtain credentials togain access to networks of their targets, according to a reportfrom the two agencies, which Reuters reported on Friday.
“None of America’s 99 operating nuclear plants have beenpenetrated by a cyber attack," said John Keeley, a spokesman forindustry trade group Nuclear Energy Institute.
If a plant´s operations had been breached, that wouldrequire mandatory notification to the Nuclear RegulatoryCommission, which would notify the public, he said.
Those requirements do not cover cyber intrusions on businessnetworks of firms that operate nuclear power plants, saidKeeley.
He said had no information as to whether such attackshad occurred.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Victor Dricksdeclined to comment on the joint report, saying the agency doesnot comment on security-related issues.
The report from the FBI and Homeland Security, which wasreviewed by Reuters on Friday, did not identify any victims ordescribe the impact hackers had on targeted networks.
It did say that cyber attackers have historically "targetedthe energy sector with various goals ranging from cyberespionage to the ability to disrupt energy systems in the eventof a hostile conflict.
"Homeland Security and FBI officials did not respond torequests for comment on the report, which was dated June 28.