Along Those Lines: How Can Electric Co-ops Avoid Becoming Victims of Ransomware?

(Photo By: Wachirawit Jenlohakit/Getty Images)

First in a two-part series for Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Ransomware became a household word earlier this year when the Colonial Pipeline, a major fuel delivery source on the East Coast, was shut down for several days after hackers attacked the company’s billing system.

This episode is sponsored by Meridian Cooperative.

These highly disruptive and costly network intrusions are on the rise in the United States and globally, and businesses across the spectrum are being targeted. How can electric cooperatives avoid becoming victims of this sophisticated malware? And what should they do if they are attacked?

To answer those and other questions, we’re joined by Ryan Newlon, NRECA’s principal for cybersecurity solutions, and Dave Eisenreich, a special agent with the FBI in the Cyber Division and that group’s liaison to the energy sector.

Listen to the episode below:

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Check out part 2 of our October cybersecurity series, in which cyber experts from the FBI and NRECA discuss the cyber vulnerabilities that come with the rise in electric vehicles and how to mitigate them.

Find out more about NRECA’s podcast. Questions or suggestions? Email us at AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop.