FBI, NSA, And CISA Warn Of Cyber Attacks On Food & Water Systems In America – Now A ‘National Security Threat’

With continued fears of cyber and ransomware attacks that may strike the United States, the federal government is now initiating a new advisory on a potential breach that may down food and agriculture systems.

This new advisement comes via a collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

More specifically, the advisement is regarding what is called “BlackMatter” ransomware, which can be used to target U.S. infrastructure entities.

CISA explains more in their official press release on October 18th:

‘First seen in July 2021, cyber actors leveraged BlackMatter with embedded, previously compromised credentials that enabled them to access the network and remotely encrypt hosts and shared drives. When the actors found backup data stores and appliances on the network, not stored offsite, they wiped or reformatted the data. BlackMatter is a ransomware-as-a-service (Raas) tool, which means the developers are able to profit from cybercriminal affiliates (i.e., BlackMatter actors) who deploy it,’ the agency explains.

Furthermore, National Hog Farmer notes that this BlackMatter as a ‘Russian cybercrime cell,’ who have leveraged the “attackees” for tens of millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrencies.

This advisory highlights the evolving and persistent nature of criminal cyber actors and the need for a collective public and private approach to reduce the impact and prevalence of ransomware attacks. CISA, FBI and NSA are taking every step possible to try to make it harder for cyber criminals to operate. Americans can help us in this long-term endeavor by visiting Stopransomware.gov to learn how to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of ransomware.

Eric Goldstein, Executive Assistant Director for CISA

The FBI, along with CISA and NSA, is dedicated to preventing, disrupting, and combating the evolving ransomware threat. Unfortunately, too many ransomware incidents go unreported, and because silence benefits the cybercriminals the most, we ask targeted entities to contact their local FBI Field Office and speak to a cyber agent. By reporting a cyber incident, targeted entities are enhancing our ability to respond and investigate with the goal of disrupting cybercriminal operations. We will continue to leverage our unique authorities and capabilities to protect the American people from this threat; however, we cannot accomplish this alone. We remain committed to providing the public and our private sector partners with information that will bolster their ability to decrease vulnerabilities and increase awareness of potential exploits.

Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Dvision

The threat of ransomware goes beyond specific impacts to a victim company – it has risen to a national security issue. NSA’s technical skills and threat intelligence will continue to support our partners across government and industry to degrade adversary footholds into networks where they launch ransomware. Employing the mitigations in the joint advisory with CISA and FBI will protect networks and mitigate the risk against BlackMatter and other ransomware attacks.

Rob Joyce, Director of Cybersecurity at the NSA

The release further explains that these three federal agencies will be emphasizing that organizations will need to enforce and implement backup protocols, generate even stronger passwords, utilize multi-factor authentication, and “implement network segmentation and traversal monitoring.”

In a separate document released on the same day, CISA provided a little more detail on what companies can do to prevent these cyber breaches, and what to do if one occurs. For example, they further define what “traversal monitoring” entails:

To aid in detecting the ransomware, implement a tool that logs and reports all network traffic, including lateral movement activity on a network. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools are particularly useful for detecting lateral connections as they have insight into common and uncommon network connections for each host. 

This document can be downloaded below:

On the heels of this announcement, two Iowa Senators – Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst – wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about these cyber threats against the agricultural systems.

Blaming BlackMatter, an Iowa grain cooperative called NEW Cooperative – which is responsible for 40% of grains distributed in the country – was attacked and had their co-op systems taken over. These systems controlled crop irrigation, livestock feed schedules and inventory distribution. The hackers demanded $5.9 million in return for control of the systems.

The company’s rapid return to alternative operations averted a crash in grain prices, but the threat of continued attacks has dire consequences.

The Senators wrote in the letter

Farmers Cooperative Elevator Co., a company based in Arcadia, Iowa, was also attacked by a ransomware group called BlackByte. Unless the company handed over a ransom, the hackers would release private financial, sales and accounting data.

The extent of the damage from the NEW Cooperative and Farmers Cooperative Elevator Co. attacks is not isolated to the grain market. Feed from the cooperatives’ grain supply sustains millions of livestock. These attacks will affect the supply chain that puts food on the shelves in grocery stores across the country. As Iowa farmers adopt new technologies to get their crops to market, their exposure grows to similar attacks. That exposure not only risks the livelihood of Iowa farmers, it risks food security for Americans.

The Senators also wrote

But the federal government isn’t done issuing warnings about cyber attacks. Just a few days prior to their cooperative advisory on ransomware, other agencies are sounding the alarm on water and wastewater systems.

CISA, along with the FBI and NSA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also involved with warning about the threats posed to water and wastewater systems (WWS).

CISA explained in their press release,

[Ransomware attacks threaten] the ability of WWS facilities to provide clean, potable water to, and effectively manage the wastewater of, their communities. The joint CSA provides extensive mitigations and resources to assist WWS Sector facilities in strengthening operational resilience and cybersecurity practices.

CISA provides another document detailing ways for companies to tighten up their defenses, as urged by the government agencies.

Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum had once warned that a cyber attack that targets a nation and its systems, would make the Covid pandemonium and the problems it wrought look like child’s play.

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Hebrews 11:7

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Proverbs 27:12

When the government talks in cryptic language with statements such as: “[We are] taking every step possible to try to make it harder for cyber criminals to operate;” “We will continue to leverage our unique authorities and capabilities to protect the American people from this threat;” “The threat of ransomware goes beyond specific impacts to a victim company – it has risen to a national security issue” – this means that government is about ready to stage another crisis and impose a whole ‘nother “new set of rules.” Classic Problem. Reaction. Solution.

Moreover, is it not rather “coincidental” that two Republican senators are worried about this issue, and just so happens to write a letter to the government saying, ‘We need you to enslave the American people s’more.’ But I guess I am just being my usual conspiratorial-self as always, right…?

Regular WinePress readers know that I have been warning about this coming destruction of the internet since January of this year, and more and more evidence has surfaced that proves beyond of a shadow of a doubt that a purposeful internet and grid collapse is coming. ‘They’ have been trialing it alone the way to purposefully weaken the supply chains, but to also study the responses and reactions. I’ll link some articles The WP has done about this below, along with a video by Ice Age Farmer about these current issues.

Furthermore, when these governing bodies are talking about threats to the water system, they are talking about a total collapse of the tap in the cities and suburbs, along without being able to flush the toilets, bathing, etc.! If and when this happens, the cities will be without proper water. These agencies are not overtly saying that, but I am filling in the blanks for you.

Be advised: we are seeing the early innings of what Jesus said would happen in the latter days:

[6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:6-8

This should further reiterate and assert your urgency to prepare as much and as best you can. The Lord will certainly provide for his children, yes, but that is not an excuse to be lazy and idle.

Warn who you can, because I fear it will get ugly this winter.

Must Read: Shelves Go Bare And MREs Are Sold Out, As Media Fuels Panic Buying And Economic Hysteria. And A Rant

The Coming Cyber Pandemic

Internet Shutdowns Are The New Weapons Of Choice For Control

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Etc., All Facing Scripted Outages And Glitches Worldwide

Is America Headed For A ‘Dark Winter?’

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