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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 2018)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian A2 Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Idaho lab protects U.S. infrastructure from cyber attacks By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — It’s called the “Dark Side” because the 50 work- ers there prefer to keep the lights low so they can dim the brightness on their com- puter screens. Or maybe it’s because of what they do in cyber research and development. Questions about exactly what goes on at the heart of one of the United States’ primary cybersecurity facil- ities at the Idaho National Laboratory aren’t always answered, and photos by outsiders aren’t allowed. What is shared is that the U.S. is rushing to catch up with what cybersecu- rity experts say are threats by hackers to systems that operate energy pipelines, hydroelectric projects, drinking water systems and nuclear power plants across the country. Hackers open- ing valves, cutting power or manipulating traffic lights, for example, could have serious consequences. Scott Cramer, who directs the lab’s cybersecurity pro- gram, said current efforts mostly involve “bolting on” cybersecurity protections to decades-old infrastructure control systems amid con- cerns they’ve already been infiltrated by malicious enti- AP Photo/Keith Ridler, File This Nov. 29, 2018, file photo, shows the new Cyber Integration Center being built in Idaho Falls, Idaho, that will be ready next fall. be finished next fall at a cost of about $85 million. “We’re almost out of space, and we’re hiring like mad,” Cramer said. “So hav- ing that (integration center) building in a year is going to be incredible for us.” The lab’s focus is on what are called critical infra- structure control systems, as opposed to cybersecurity systems intended to protect information, such as banking or personal health records. Its employees work to prevent threats like one that occurred in 2013, in which the Justice Department said seven Iranian hackers work- ing at the behest of the Ira- nian government gained access to the controls of a dam in the suburbs of New York City. Prosecutors said ties waiting for the oppor- tune time to strike. “This is no joke — there are vulnerabilities out there,” he said. “We’re pretty much in reaction mode right now.” The Idaho National Lab- oratory is mainly known as the nation’s primary lab for nuclear research. But in the past decade, its cybersecu- rity work has put it on the leading edge there as well, and it’s expanding. A new 80,000-square- foot building called the Cybercore Integration Cen- ter will hold 20 laboratories and 200 workers. Another 67,000-square-foot build- ing called the Collabora- tive Computing Center will house one of the nation’s most powerful supercom- puters. They are expected to the hackers would have been able to remotely access the dam’s gate, but it was dis- connected at the time for maintenance. Prosecutors in an indictment made pub- lic in 2016 called it a “fright- ening new frontier in cyber- crime.” The hackers remain wanted by the FBI. The Dark Side room is in one of multiple buildings in Idaho Falls that house the lab’s cybercore, a division within National and Home- land Security. It’s decorated with workers’ “alter egos,” life-sized cardboard cut- outs of “Star Wars” heroes and other famous characters such as Sheldon, the genius and socially inept main char- acter of the comedy show “The Big Bang Theory.” “That workforce is a THURSDAY Afternoon rain and snow showers A morning fl urry; mostly cloudy 40° 29° 34° 26° FRIDAY SATURDAY Areas of low clouds and chilly SUNDAY Times of clouds and sun 3 arraigned in connection with shooting Rain and drizzle in the p.m. PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 36° 28° 41° 28° 42° 34° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 40° 31° 39° 27° 38° 30° 45° 29° 43° 35° OREGON FORECAST ALMANAC Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Seattle Olympia 47/35 34/27 37/24 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 41/30 Lewiston 44/37 40/30 Astoria 49/40 Pullman Yakima 35/25 45/33 39/31 Portland Hermiston 46/39 The Dalles 40/31 Salem Corvallis 47/34 Yesterday Normals Records La Grande 37/30 Bend 47/35 41/27 38/29 Ontario 39/25 Caldwell Burns 0.01" 0.62" 1.20" 7.58" 9.29" 9.67" WINDS (in mph) 38/25 33/20 ONTARIO (AP) — Three people on Christmas Eve were arraigned on charges related to a shooting in Oregon. The Argus Observer reports 27-year-old Xavier Machuca was arraigned on attempted murder, assault in the first degree and unlaw- ful use of a weapon charges in connection to the Friday shooting in Ontario. His security bond was set at $1.1 million. Branden Learned was arraigned on a charge of hindering prosecution. The 31-year- old was held without bail due to a probation violation from a previous manner. However, his security bond tied to the new charge is $15,000. Jasmine Ceballos was also arraigned on charges of hindering prosecution and unlaw- ful possession of a weapon. The 20-year-old woman’s bond was set at $35,0000. Public defenders will be assigned to the three Ontario residents. A grand jury will decide whether to indict the individuals on all charges on Thursday. Southwest Portland MAX platform left one man wounded, two people in jail and one sus- pect still on the run. KOIN-TV reports three people were on the MAX platform at around 6:40 a.m. Tues- day when someone walked up, flashed a gun and demanded they empty their pockets. Portland police say two more suspects joined in. Two victims ran, but the third victim was assaulted and stabbed. When emer- gency responders arrived, they treated him before sending him to a hospital. Police say his wound is serious, but he’s expected to survive. The suspects were gone by the time police arrived, but two were found. The search for the third robber continues. The names of the people involved have not been released and the investigation continues. Oregon allows medical marijuana deliveries in banned areas PRECIPITATION John Day Eugene 39° 36° 39° 27° 62° (1971) 0° (1983) 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Albany 46/36 0.14" 1.24" 1.27" 10.11" 16.19" 12.74" through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Pendleton 34/24 48/37 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date HERMISTON Enterprise 40/29 40/33 35° 32° 39° 25° 61° (1980) -16° (1924) PRECIPITATION Moses Lake 46/34 Aberdeen 33/24 33/24 Tacoma Yesterday Normals Records Spokane Wenatchee 46/38 for junior and high school students and has competi- tions that it plans to expand to nudge tech-savvy youths toward cybersecurity careers. The lab recently held a contest among college stu- dents involving Idaho uni- versities and other national labs and colleges where workers in the lab’s Dark Side attempted to hack into systems the students tried to defend. It’s a fun competition, but it’s also a proving ground to find the next generation of cybersecurity workers where a shortage of more than a million employees by 2020 is estimated. Cramer said the nation’s universities don’t even have curriculums to train future cybersecurity workers. That’s something he’s working to change with Idaho universities that could ultimately offer degrees to draw those students and become a main supplier for good-paying jobs in cybersecurity. “The problem is so new and challenging that we don’t have the workforce right now to challenge the problem efficiently,” he said. “We’re in a bit of a scram- ble mode to help get caught up and train folks to get our arms around a big national challenge.” BRIEFLY Forecast for Pendleton Area TODAY unique culture with brilliant minds,” Cramer said. The Idaho National Lab- oratory’s cybersecurity also has an electronics lab to dis- mantle and examine com- puters, including pulling information off severely damaged storage drives. The electronics lab contains a map of the U.S. West’s electric grid and a car-sized computer that helps test the security systems of West- ern utilities, including Idaho Power, which serves an esti- mated 1.2 million people in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Brad Bowlin, an Idaho Power spokesman, said the company as a matter of pol- icy doesn’t comment on its cybersecurity efforts. In general, hackers can include foreign entities and nation-states with sophis- ticated attacks, malicious computer geeks, and even kids with no intent to do harm but just a curiosity to see if they have the skills to breach a system’s security. Those kids, it turns out, are candidates for the lab’s Dark Side room. “Those are the kids we’re looking for,” said Darren Stephens, a cyber-researcher at the lab. The Idaho National Lab- oratory makes efforts to find them beginning with mid- dle schoolers. It also looks Today Medford 42/34 Thu. SW 3-6 SW 4-8 Boardman Pendleton Man hospitalized after armed robbery on Christmas morning SW 3-6 W 4-8 PORTLAND — An armed robbery at a SALEM (AP) — Oregon regulators will allow medical marijuana to be delivered to patients who live in areas of the state where licensed marijuana activity is prohibited. The Statesman Journal reports the rules approved last week by the state Liquor Con- trol Commission go into effect Dec. 28. SUN AND MOON Klamath Falls 38/26 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018 Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today 7:35 a.m. 4:17 p.m. 9:22 p.m. 10:47 a.m. Last New First Full Dec 29 Jan 5 Jan 13 Jan 20 NATIONAL EXTREMES Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 83° in McAllen, Texas Low -4° in Massena, N.Y. NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s 0s showers t-storms 10s rain 20s flurries 30s snow 40s 50s ice 60s cold front E AST O REGONIAN — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. 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