Cyber Attacks on British Rail Network

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

I noticed this story over the summer but it seemed to escape much attention due to Brexit.

www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/07/12/uk-rail-network-hit-by-multiple-cyber-attacks-last-year/
(Not sure how to make that clicky)
Apparently there were a number of cyber attacks on the rail network over the past year as forms of "cyber espionage". Whilst nothing too critical seems to have occurred, this type of thing is seriously worrying. Could this lead to further attacks on power resources (powercuts) or government databases (benefit payments, public sector salary payments)?

Apparently cyber attacks were responsible for a mass power outage in Ukraine.
www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-network-rail-darktrace-reveals-british-transport-system-had-four-nation-state-hacks-one-year-1570236

Maybe it's just me having read Powerless in recent months but does this start alarm bells ringing for anyone else? How would be best to prep for something like a cyber attack on our power network?

[cozietoesie]

Water, food, medical supplies and rechargeables such as lanterns, radios and torches.

I think it's entirely possible and I think it would be .......challenging.

[Sleepybunny]

I watched the movie 'Blackout' It's available on YouTube.

That really got me thinking about prepping for this type of situation!

[cozietoesie]

Watch 'American Blackout' - also on YouTube.

[Sleepybunny]

[cozietoesie]

Just restrain yourself from also watching some of the stuff that comes up on the right hand sidebar. You won't sleep after seeing some of those, I'm afraid.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

I have watched Blackout (both versions) a couple of times and it sent me into anxiety overdrive. It feels like such a real possibility. I'm not sure why the events on the rail network seem to have been almost glossed over, to me it's a huge deal and incredibly worrying. Today, after much debate with my DP, I ordered a solar panel which I know in the event of power attack I will probably end up having pinched, but it might just help me get a bit of sleep right now.

[cozietoesie]

Do what is right for you at the moment and what will help you to function.

It's always been with us - eg all my adult life, I've lived with the threat of imminent nuclear holocaust and that differs from a thousand years ago only in the degree of impact of the effect of trouble. You adjust to threat levels.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

The railway network is an obvious target I'd have thought. I wonder how easy it would be to attack.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

I grew up largely in NI so I have been used to preparing for "traditional" terrorist attacks all my life. I.e. Always knowing where the exits are, wearing decent shoes to make a run for it etc. but you're right, we need to adapt. Most of the prepping we do in our house is for bad weather and unexpected financial troubles be that just for our family or a countrywide scale. I'm focussing mainly on skills like candle making, taking lessons at a butchers, learning how to grow food etc.

I take the train 2-3 times a week and whilst I could get where I need to go by bus, car or foot at a push I can't help think how much trouble a huge attack would cause.
I'm going to start adapting my handbag for things I'd need if happen to be trapped on a train or stranded with a long alternative route home (my medication, water, update my first aid kit, small scarf, phone charger) but I don't know how else to prepare for this specifically.

[Sleepybunny]

I was wondering what about homes with solar power? They never really mentioned that in the films.
I was thinking a solar powered phone/battery charger would be sensible.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

I know my in laws have solar panels which somehow feed into their heating and they are dependant on the electricity sparking their boiler or something? I'm not 100% on how it works. We are looking into wood burning stoves for our dining room and the majority seem to be dependant on an initial electricity trigger.

[cozietoesie]

Lack of power is huge. There are so many things around the house - or in society generally - which depend on some power these days. Even a small amount of power to get them going/ keep them functioning properly. There might be emergency plans to support some of them - for a time - but by no means all.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

I was on the motorway the other day and saw huge truck after truck passing by and then came to an area with lots of those huge supermarket fulfilment depots. I realised how quickly the chain would break down if there was even a one day nationwide powercut. Everything is so dependant on electricity and petrol, so many of us take it for granted.

[Sleepybunny]

Totally! Do you remember truck drivers striking at the rising costs of fuel a few years back? Our local stations ran out of fuel pretty fast as people panicked.
Also even over Christmas when bad weather is predicted, shops would run out of things fast.

[SideOrderofChip]

Blackout, the bbc version is terrifying. But it does make you think, as a prepper, that you have to be careful with what you do and use in those situations. Don't make it obvious that you may have more resources than others.

[torthecatlady]

I spent hours googling "prepping" after the blackout (uk version) and wondering what I would do in that scenario.

[cozietoesie]

No need to be embarrassed. Just starting to think about things is the larger part of it, I reckon.

[torthecatlady]

Cozie Thanks! The prepping boards are always a safe place

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

Blackout scared me, it haunts my dreams.
It made me very proactive though. We made a few sensible plans various different emergencies be they home based or larger scale.

[cozietoesie]

Hopefully it won't haunt your dreams for long because it's important to live life. If you're aware of possibilities, though, you can adjust how you live just a wee bit to make some allowances for them.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

Very interesting to see the government investing £1.9billion into protecting the country against cyber crimes.
It was interesting to see also that a French TV channel was taken down last year due to such an attack and there were attempted attacks on British channels too.

I'm glad they are taking it as a serious threat but also so worried that something has happened behind the scenes to trigger this investiment.

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/01/dont-panic-but-the-chancellor-says-cyber-crime-could-lead-us-int/amp/?client=safari

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37821867

[cozietoesie]

I saw that, today. Interesting.

[cozietoesie]

Things are happening 'behind the scenes' all the time.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

Yes, seemingly something big must have happened to trigger such an investment. I can't understand why this has escaped so many people's attention.

[cozietoesie]

It's the risk perception, I guess. The scale of the hazard is huge and the likelihood of it happening is demonstrable.