REPORT SAYS SHASTA DAM COULD BE AT HIGH RISK FOR INSIDER THREATS -

By: Spencer Joseph and Heidi Rene

Action News

An inspector general report finds two dams critical to U.S. national security are at high risk for “insider threats” due to poor computer security.Posted: Jun 12, 2018 11:36 AMUpdated: Jun 12, 2018 7:39 PMPosted By: Spencer Joseph and Heidi Rene

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – An inspector general report finds two dams critical to U.S. national security are at high risk for “insider threats” due to poor computer security.

The Monday report does not name the two dams, but they are among five considered “critical infrastructure.” The five are Hoover, Shasta, Grand Coulee, Glen Canyon and Folsom dams.

The inspector general at the U.S. Department of the Interior conducted the evaluation.

It finds the two dams are at low risk of outside cyber infiltration, but high risk of threats from within.

Risk factors include too many people having access to administrator accounts, a failure to change passwords regularly and background checks that aren’t rigorous enough.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation which operates the dams disputes some of the findings.

Statement from congressman Doug LaMalfa on the issue.

“While we don’t currently know that either Shasta or Folsom Dams are the high-risk dams in question, it’s imperative that these issues are given the proper level of attention and quality solutions for the pressing cybersecurity threats our country faces. Beyond that, proper maintenance is equally important – we witnessed the results of poor maintenance firsthand with the Oroville Dam spillway incident last year. Regardless of which dams are at risk, these are all considered important infrastructure to our national security, and I’m glad the inspector general is looking into it.” TOP ARTICLES2/5READ MOREThree cited for abandoning puppies inShasta County