As reported on smh.com.au and theinquirer.net yesterday, Integral Energy had a major problem with it’s IT control network. A virus (W32.Virut.CF) infected the Windows based computers used by operators controlling the power grid. They were saved when some quick thinking techs replaced the Windows PCs with Linux PCs that were being used for development and testing. The Windows PCs are used to control the power grid’s system control and data acquisition (SCADA) servers running Solaris Unix.

Symantec software is used to protect the Windows PCs and they had released a fix for this particular virus in February, so it looks like poor maintenance procedures are a major problem at Integral Energy.