U.S. stages cyberattack on generator

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. government researchers caused a generator to explode using an experimental cyberattack method.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security possesses video of the experiment, which was conducted in March at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho lab, that shows a generator smoking profusely after the experiment, CNN reported Thursday.

Homeland Security officials said they have been working since the experiment to protect larger generators from such an attack, which could cause severe problems to the country's energy infrastructure that would take months to repair.

"I can't say it (the vulnerability) has been eliminated. But I can say a lot of risk has been taken off the table," said Robert Jamison, acting undersecretary of the department's National Protection and Programs Directorate.

Government sources said security changes to the generators include altered computer software and hardware designed to counter cyberattacks.