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Emprimus Corporation of
Minneapolis, Minn., the nation's leader in evaluating, testing and
remediating against intentional electromagnetic attacks, has
announced that it was asked to provide testimony before the
Congressional Subcommittee on Emerging Threats To Cybersecurity,
Science and Technology on Tuesday, July 21, about the present
vulnerability of the U.S. electric grid and other critical civilian
infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools,
places of worship, housings, utility facilities, or the like to
growing intentional electromagnetic threats, and its recommendations
for steps toward remediation of those threats.
Every year, the modern infrastructure of the U.S. becomes
increasingly dependent on integrated circuit-based electronic
control systems, computers, and burgeoning masses of
electronically-stored data. All are at risk from this emerging
threat. Growing use of non-nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse/Intentional
Electromagnetic Interference
See EMI.
..... Click the
link for more information. (EMP/IEMI), including Radio
Frequency (RF) weapons, poses grave dangers to all of our civilian
infrastructure including our national electric grid, manufacturing
control and distribution systems, corporate data and data assets,
and emergency response operations. IEMI can damage electronic
equipment and the associated data; rendering systems useless and
potentially unrecoverable. In addition to these primary assets,
vulnerable support systems at risk range from security systems and
communication links to fire protection and HVAC
(Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning)
In the home or small office with a handful of computers, HVAC is
more for human comfort than the machines. In large datacenters, a
humidity-free room with a steady, cool temperature is essential for
the trouble-free
..... Click the
link for more information. systems.
The U.S. Navy has tested and demonstrated how easily a non-nuclear
EMP device can be made. These person-portable or
vehicle-borne weapons are becoming a modern tool of those wishing to
conduct highly asymmetrical warfare, including former employees,
criminals, extremists, and terrorists. The technology to create RF
weapons is becoming widely available through courses at major
universities and public conferences. Additionally, full devices,
including parts and construction plans, are available on the
Internet.
"An intentional or unintentional EMP attack on U.S. data centers,
the electric grid or critical control systems and sensors, such as
those found in water treatment facilities or the Alaskan oil
pipeline could have catastrophic consequences for the U.S. and world
economy," said Gale Nordling, president of Emprimus. Yvette Clarke,
Subcommittee Chair, added, "For example, if the electric grid was
attacked and a large sector of the country was affected, medicines
and food would go bad, phone and radio communication would be
non-existent, water treatment facilities would go down and critical
data and infrastructure could be lost forever."
Members of the Congressional Subcommittee were shocked upon learning
that the major U.S. energy providers (as well as data centers,
communication providers and hospitals) have known about this threat
for more than 10 years, yet have taken no steps to protect critical
infrastructure from EMP attacks. As a result of the committee's
findings, Congress is contemplating broadening planned legislation
to amend the Federal Power Act to include electromagnetic attacks
and other cyber threats. This legislation will provide additional
authority to adequately protect the critical electric infrastructure
against IEMI attacks and other cyber attacks, as well as hardening
the electric grid against this threat.
More than 300 European data centers are protected and many national
governments have protected portions of their critical
infrastructures against these electromagnetic threats. The U.S.
military and some critical government assets are protected as well.
Emprimus was formed to protect U.S. civilian business along with
state and local governments
"Unlike traditional cyber threats to data security, IEMI is
extremely covert and difficult to detect and trace, with no
footprints readily amenable to forensics because of corrupted data.”
said Nordling. "Fortunately, there are remediation approaches to
help diminish this threat class if appropriate steps are taken."
For more information, visit www.emprimus.com
or call
312-780-7223
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