Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

We've changed the headline and updated this post to reflect new information.


A Vermont utility company says it found Russian malware on one of its computers. The discovery came after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alerted utilities to the code associated with Grizzly Steppe, the name for what the Obama administration has called a Russian hacking operation.



Burlington Electric, the municipally owned utility in Vermont's largest city, issued a 

 saying the malware was detected in a single laptop not connected to the company's grid system. "We took immediate action to isolate the laptop and alerted federal officials of this finding. Our team is working with federal officials to trace this malware and prevent any other attempts to infiltrate utility systems. We have briefed state officials and will support the investigation fully," the statement said.


Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin lashed out at the Russian government, saying in a statement, "Vermonters and all Americans should be both alarmed and outraged that one of the world's leading thugs, Vladimir Putin, has been attempting to hack our electric grid, which we rely upon to support our quality-of-life, economy, health, and safety."

 on the hacking incident, quoting the state's Public Service Commissioner as saying the hack never threatened the power grid.


reported on the hacking incident in a follow-up story

, writing that there was no evidence Russian hackers targeted the Vermont utility. Taylor Dobbs wrote:


Politics and Government News

Jim Kane

Author

A Vermont utility company says it found Russian malware on one of it's computers.

U.S. officials say Russia hacked a Vermont utility

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox