The uncomfortable reality is that the energy sector's cyberattacks have doubled between 2020 and 2022. Indeed, 48 successful attacks hit Europe’s energy infrastructure in 2022 alone, which is why cybersecurity has become a key component of ensuring overall energy security. In particular, cybersecurity experts in the Netherlands have been closely monitoring the major power outage affecting Spain and Portugal and are raising pressing concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.[1]
Following the large-scale and prolonged power outage that affected parts of Spain and Portugal, including major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon, the government authorities in both countries are investigating the cause. The Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advises citizens to prepare for similar future disruptions in the Netherlands.
Initially, there were fears that a cyber-attack could be behind the widespread disruptions in Portugal and Spain. Spain's grid operator does not think that a cyber-attack caused the outage, although that is disputed. While the Spanish authorities have attributed the outage to weather-related factors, experts in the Netherlands have warned that cyberattacks could cause similar issues with critical infrastructure.
ESET CEO Dave Maasland commented, "At this stage, very little is confirmed, and attacks on critical infrastructure at this scale remain rare. That’s why it's important to wait for official updates. In some cases, adversaries can use the fear of a cyberattack to incite panic and confusion. Human error and technical failures without any cyber component remain possible explanations."
Other cyberattacks on power grids have occurred, including numerous attacks by Russian hackers that have disabled power systems in western Ukraine. The Red Cross in the Netherlands is reported to have echoed the NCSC’s advice, suggesting that even short-term power outages could lead to widespread disruption and even social unrest.
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[1] https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/blog/present-danger-cyber-attacks-on-power-grids-8402.html
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