Articles from and for hams
• Hacking With Longwave
Added at 2025-01-02 14:00:09
Power Grids Vulnerable to Longwave Hacking?
A broken streetlamp in Berlin lead two researchers to discover a vulnerability in the implementation of the controllers in the streetlamps, an even power procduction facilities in some central European countries.
It was a Funkrundsteueremfänger – a radio controlled power controller – made by a company called EFR.
The researchers original intent was to hack the devices to enable them to be able to turn streetlights on and off at will. The controllers could be communicated with using longwave radio and an open protocol.
It was quickly realized that this idea could be scaled up and used to potentially turn off enough power generation, and increase the load, to bring down a power grid. All through longwave communication to the controllers.
The researchers contacted EFR about the vulnerability and provided details of the mode of attack. EFR involved their lawyers and urged the researchers not to release their data to the public.
EFR is aware of the vulnerability and started plans to secure the controllers since 2017 yet very little progress has been made towards that goal.
As the researchers point out, it’s important to discover and disclose when legacy systems put the grid in potential danger.
More details here - https://media.ccc.de/v/38c3-blinkencity-radio-controlling-street-lamps-and-power-plants
https://media.ccc.de/v/38c3-blinkencity-radio-controlling-street-lamps-and-power-plants
