Critical Severity

Oldsmar Florida Water Treatment Hack

📅 20210205 → Pinellas County FL Profile

A hacker remotely accessed the computer system controlling the Oldsmar, Florida water treatment plant and attempted to increase the sodium hydroxide (lye) level in the water supply by 111 times — from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million, a level that would have caused severe chemical burns if consumed. A plant operator noticed the cursor moving and the chemical levels changing in real-time and immediately reversed the change. The attack lasted minutes. The attacker gained access through a remote desktop software program. The incident exposed the widespread use of unsecured remote access tools at water treatment facilities across the US. The hacker was never identified.

A hacker remotely accessed the computer system controlling the Oldsmar, Florida water treatment plant and attempted to increase the sodium hydroxide (lye) level in the water supply by 111 times — from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million, a level that would have caused severe chemical burns if consumed. A plant operator noticed the cursor moving and the chemical levels changing in real-time and immediately reversed the change. The attack lasted minutes. The attacker gained access through a remote desktop software program. The incident exposed the widespread use of unsecured remote access tools at water treatment facilities across the US. The hacker was never identified.

// Source

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// Incident Details

Incident Date20210205
County Pinellas County FL
StateAlabama
Severity Critical
PublishedFebruary 5, 2021
SourceFBI / CISA / Pinellas County Sheriff

// County Risk Profile

Pinellas County FL
Alabama · Hurricane / Storm Surge
View full emergency preparedness profile →
9 /10
Critical Risk