Leery States Examine Cybersecurity

Several states around the country on Saturday are asking cybersecurity experts to re-examine state and utility networks after a Vermont utility’s laptop was found to contain malware that U.S. officials say is linked to Russian hackers. The Burlington Electric Department, one of Vermont’s two largest electric utilities, confirmed Friday it had found on one of its laptops the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe — the name the U.S. government has given to malicious cyber activity by Russian civilian and military intelligence services.

Leery States Examine Cybersecurity

Several states around the country on Saturday are asking cybersecurity experts to re-examine state and utility networks after a Vermont utility’s laptop was found to contain malware that U.S. officials say is linked to Russian hackers. The Burlington Electric Department, one of Vermont’s two largest electric utilities, confirmed Friday it had found on one of its laptops the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe — the name the U.S. government has given to malicious cyber activity by Russian civilian and military intelligence services.

Russian hackers penetrated US electricity grid through Vermont utility

A code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by President Barack Obama’s administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont utility, according to U.S. officials. While the Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations, according to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a security matter, the discovery underscores the vulnerabilities of the nation’s electrical grid.

Sanders’ bid, Hardwood tragedy top Vermont stories for 2016

In this May 26, 2015 file photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., formally announces in Burlington, Vt., that he he will seek the Democratic nomination for president while his grandson, Dylan Driscoll, 3, lays in the shade by the stage. Sanders’ strength in the primaries was chosen 2016’s top state story in a poll of journalists at Associated Press member newspapers and broadcasters in Vermont.