February 09, 2021

Andrew Campbell 

U.S. Florida’s Pinellas County Police announced an unidentified hacker tried to poison the city of Oldsmar’s water supply with sodium hydroxide on February 5. Although the hacker had gained remote access to the computer system of Oldsmar’s water treatment plant, an operator noticed the misbehavior and avoid the disaster.

Sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye, is the main ingredient in liquid drain cleaners. It is often used to control water acidity and remove metals from drinking water at treatment plants. If people happen to swallow it, their skin and eyes will hurt and their hair may lose temporarily. Being corrosive, it can hurt the mouth, throat, and stomach and vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea can also be found.

According to statements released at the news conference on February 8, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described a plant worker at the city of Oldsmar's water treatment facility first noticed unusual activity when a hacker briefly access the computer system on the morning of February 5. Later in the afternoon, the operator also noticed that a hacker accessed the computer system and directed to the software that controls water treatment.

The hacker changed the amount of sodium hydroxide from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million. The plant operator noticed the dangerous increase in sodium hydroxide, so he intervened and had the attack on Oldsmar’s water supply averted. Police said it remains unknown if the hacker was from the US or outside.

Photo:Webshot.