German nuclear power plant detects infection by untargeted malware

Malware has been found at a nuclear power plant in Gundremmingen, Germany. This was present on a computer that controls the loading machine for fuel elements. An investigation shows that it is probably not a targeted attack.

According to the Bayerische Rundfunk, the malware had no influence on the control of the machine and only served to establish a connection to the Internet. It would therefore not be a targeted attack, but malware that could also be found on private and company computers. It is not yet clear how infection could have taken place, so far it is assumed that this happened via a USB stick.

The responsible company states that all systems that come into contact with radioactive material function completely analogously, in order to counteract external influences. Following the discovery, all relevant computer systems were examined and found to be free of malware. A group of opponents of nuclear energy has also asked for clarification about the duration of the malware’s presence.

Located in southern Germany, the nuclear power plant produces two times 1,344 megawatts and was built between 1962 and 1966. The two reactors that are still active today date from 1984. Now that Germany is slowly moving away from nuclear energy, it is planned that the plant will be switched off in 2021.