Feds tracking down hacker who tried to poison Florida’s water supply

A shocking case of computer hacking was discovered in Pinellas County, Florida. Federal investigators are trying to hunt down the person who tried to poison a public water supply – remotely.

Investigators say a plant operator who monitored the water plant in the town of Oldsmar, in Tampa Bay, noticed violations as of Friday morning.

The hacker was controlling the computer’s system mouse – opening various functions on the screen and changing sodium hydroxide in the water supply from about 100 parts per million to more than 11,100 parts per million.

“This is obviously a significant and potentially dangerous increase,” said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County. “Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, is the main ingredient in liquid drain cleaners.”

If ingested in large quantities, sodium hydroxide can cause vomiting, chest and abdominal pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Fortunately, inside the water treatment plant, the plant operator immediately reduced levels back to what was safe.

Now, the FBI and Secret Service cyber units are trying to determine who is behind the hack and whether it was someone in the United States or abroad. It took place just two days before the Super Bowl in a city about 30 miles away from Raymond James Stadium.

“But the important thing is to warn everyone … This is kind of bad. The actors are out there, it’s happening,” said Oldsmar Mayor Eric Seidel.

Cyber ​​experts warn that hackers have entered the infrastructure before – but doing something dangerous – alters the calculation.