The Hidden Costs of Nuclear Power: Cybersecurity Threats and Financial Risks at Sellafield
23/01/24 05:36 am Filed in: Nuclear | Peter Dutton
The UK's most hazardous nuclear site, #Sellafield, has been hacked by cyber groups linked to Russia and #China.
#PeterDutton will shit himself when he finds out:
Fark, Dutt's hates China but loves #Nuclear and this latest FAIL in #NuclearPower is gonna make his uphill battle to push the nukes on us:
You may not have heard of "Sellafield" that's because they changed its name, from #Windscale. We don't know why they changed the name but we suspect it was to try and improve its public image because the world nuclear dustbin didn't have a good history - It's a lemon, a glow-in-the-dark lemon, a poisonous glow-in-the-dark lemon, it's a bit of a shitter.
You may not have heard of "Sellafield" that's because they changed its name, from #Windscale. We don't know why they changed the name but we suspect it was to try and improve its public image because the world nuclear dustbin didn't have a good history - It's a lemon, a glow-in-the-dark lemon, a poisonous glow-in-the-dark lemon, it's a bit of a shitter.
Someone should tell #WillShackel as he can't tell this, he blocked us. You know, 15 year old's!
So, imagine that a cesspool of mismanaged leaking toxic nuclear waste HAS BEEN HACKED - Think #terrorism on a grand new scalewith nuclear - fuck yeah. And has the #MSM told you about it? like fuck they have. The Guardian has thank goodness, link below but here is our summary. Be scared.
The Hidden Costs of Nuclear Power: Cybersecurity Threats and Financial Risks at Sellafield
In a shocking revelation, The Guardian has uncovered that Sellafield, the UK's most hazardous nuclear site, has fallen victim to #cyberattacks by groups associated with Russia and China. The implications of this breach, including potential financial repercussions, have been deliberately concealed by senior staff at the nuclear waste and decommissioning facility.
The investigation has exposed that Sellafield's IT systems were compromised as far back as 2015, with sleeper malware embedded in its computer networks. The breach raises concerns about the compromise of sensitive activities such as handling radioactive waste, monitoring for leaks, and ensuring fire safety. The true extent of data loss and ongoing risks remain challenging to quantify due to the delayed reporting of the breach to nuclear regulators.
Sellafield, sprawled across 6 sq km on the Cumbrian coast, is considered one of the world's most hazardous sites. The facility, holding the largest store of plutonium globally, serves as a repository for nuclear waste from weapons programs and decades of atomic power generation. Last year, the facility faced cybersecurity issues and was placed under "special measures" for consistent failings, leading to potential prosecutions for cyber negligence.
The Guardian's year-long investigation, titled Nuclear Leaks, highlights not only the cybersecurity threats but also sheds light on the toxic workplace culture at Sellafield. With over 11,000 staff, the facility's cybersecurity concerns have persisted for over a decade, as revealed in a 2012 report warning of critical security vulnerabilities.
The financial implications of the cyber threats are substantial, with the annual operational cost of Sellafield estimated at £2.5 billion. Nuclear decommissioning, a significant portion of which occurs at Sellafield, poses one of the largest drains on the UK government's business department budget. The long-term cost of managing the legacy of the UK's nuclear energy and weaponry industries is estimated at £263 billion (POUNDS), a figure subject to significant fluctuations.
Conclusion:
The cybersecurity threats at Sellafield not only endanger the safety of its operations but also pose substantial financial risks. The delayed reporting, alleged cover-ups, and potential prosecutions underscore the urgency for improved cybersecurity measures at the site. As the UK government champions the expansion of the nuclear industry, it must prioritize addressing these vulnerabilities to ensure the safety and financial stability of its nuclear endeavors.
