November 21, 2023 at 04:28PM
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has confirmed a cyberattack after hacktivist group ‘SiegedSec’ leaked stolen human resources data online. The INL is a nuclear research center with 5,700 specialists and 50 experimental nuclear reactors. The hacktivists leaked personal employee information and proof of the breach. The incident is under investigation with involvement from federal law enforcement agencies. While no nuclear research data was compromised, the incident raises concerns about the security of critical infrastructure.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
1. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a nuclear research center operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, experienced a cyberattack conducted by the hacktivist group ‘SiegedSec.’
2. INL employs 5,700 specialists in atomic energy, integrated energy, and national security. The complex covers an 890-square-mile area and houses 50 experimental nuclear reactors.
3. INL is currently involved in various research areas, such as next-generation nuclear plants, control systems cybersecurity, advanced vehicle testing, bioenergy, robotics, and nuclear waste processing.
4. SiegedSec gained access to INL data, including employee, system user, and citizen information. The leaked data includes personal details, such as full names, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security Numbers (SSN), physical addresses, and employment information.
5. SiegedSec openly shared the stolen data on hacker forums and a Telegram channel without demanding ransom.
6. The hacktivist group also provided proof of the breach by sharing screenshots of internal INL tools used for document access and announcement creation.
7. INL has confirmed the breach but has not released an official statement yet. The incident is currently under investigation by federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency.
8. Although the nuclear research data has not been accessed or disclosed, the cyberattack on INL will likely lead to increased scrutiny of SiegedSec as it targeted a critical part of U.S. infrastructure.