US spends millions on cyber security for energy infrastructure

Fuel Fix:
The U.S. wants to fund research targeting better cybersecurity for the nation's power grid and the oil and natural gas industry, less than a month after web attacks hobbled electronic communications for several pipeline operators.

The agency is making $25 million in grants available for projects that pursue new approaches to making the energy sector more resilient to cyberattacks. The deadline for applications is June 18, according to a statement Monday.

Earlier this month, at least seven U.S. pipeline companies said their electronic communications systems were shut down, with five confirming the disruptions were caused by a web attack. The threat followed a U.S. government warning in March that Russian hackers are conducting an assault on the electric grid and other targets.

In February, Energy Secretary Rick Perry announced the department would use $96 million in funding to create an office to address cyber threats to energy.
...
It needs to be a priority.  Adversaries are targetting energy infrastructure as a way to disrupt US responses to more kinetic attacks elsewhere.

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