Poison in the plumbing: in Florida, a hacker tried to poison thousands of people

The hacker attempted to poison a Florida city by hacking into a water treatment system, local law enforcement officials said. Writes about it CNN.

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On Friday, February 5, a hacker gained access to a water treatment system in Oldsmare, Florida and tried to raise the level of sodium hydroxide, commonly called lye, in city water, putting thousands of people at risk of poisoning. This was confirmed by the city authorities.

The operator noticed the intrusion and watched as the hacker gained remote access to the system. According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the hacker increased the sodium hydroxide levels more than 100 times.

The operator immediately lowered the level back. There were no significant adverse impacts on the city's water supply and people were not exposed to danger, Gualtieri said. It is not known whether the violation was committed by someone local, whether it happened nationally or even outside the United States.

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Early intervention prevented the more serious consequences of the attack, said Robert Lee, CEO of Dragos Inc., an industrial cybersecurity company. But this type of attack is what keeps industry experts awake at night, he said.

"It wasn't particularly subtle, but that's what people are worried about, and it's one of the very few examples of someone trying to hurt people," Lee said.

Gualtieri said it would take 24-36 hours for water to reach the system, and that there are several reserves that could warn of too high levels before that happened. The City has taken steps to prevent further access to the system.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and the Secret Service are jointly investigating the violation, Gualtieri said. The FBI Field Office in Tampa works with the city and the sheriff's office to offer resources and assistance in the investigation.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio wants the hacking of the water treatment system to be considered a national security issue by the FBI, as he said on Twitter.

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Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is the main ingredient in a liquid sewer cleaner, Gualtieri said. Symptoms of sodium hydroxide poisoning include difficulty breathing, pneumonia, swelling of the throat, burning of the esophagus and stomach, severe abdominal pain, loss of vision, and low blood pressure, according to the University of Florida Health System.

The long-term effects of poisoning depend on how quickly the poison is dissolved or neutralized in the body. Damage to the esophagus and stomach can continue for several weeks after the poison is ingested. Death can occur after a month.

It is unknown if the rise in levels in Oldsmare resulted in any of these symptoms. The city is home to 15 people.

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