Aug 22 2019: Employees connect nuclear plant to the internet so they can mine cryptocurrency

Back in Aug 22 2019: Employees connect nuclear plant to the internet so they can mine cryptocurrency

Ukrainian authorities are investigating a potential security breach at a nuclear power plant after employees connected parts of the internal network to the internet for cryptocurrency mining. The incident is being treated as a potential breach of state secrets by the Ukrainian Secret Service.

Investigators are examining if attackers used the mining rigs as a pivot point to access the plant's network and retrieve sensitive information. This is not the first instance of state employees misusing resources for cryptocurrency mining, with similar incidents reported in Russia, Australia, and Romania.

Fast forward to Nov 16 2023: Massive cryptomining rig discovered under Polish court’s floor, stealing power

Poland's top law enforcement agency, the Internal Security Agency, has enlisted the help of IT experts to calculate the cost of stolen electricity from a secret cryptomining operation found in a Polish court. The operation, which went undetected for an unknown period of time, used secured computers connected to the internet via their own modems.

While no charges have been filed, the court terminated its contract with an IT maintenance company and fired two employees responsible for the hidden cryptomine. This incident highlights the growing trend of public institutions being targeted for electricity theft to mine cryptocurrency.

How much electricity can be stolen to power a single cryptomining rig, and should public institutions be more vigilant in protecting against such theft?