Consider This from NPR Hackers are after your water. How this town defends against them.
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Sep 8, 2025 Discover the fascinating world of wastewater treatment in a small Vermont town. Meet Chris Hughes, who juggles hands-on water management with the looming threat of cyberattacks. Recent incidents reveal hackers targeting vital infrastructure, raising alarms about water safety. Local residents and cybersecurity experts rally together to enhance defenses against these digital intrusions. Amidst budget cuts and growing risks, learn how communities are proactively safeguarding their critical resources from cyber threats.
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Operator Who Loves The Job
- Chris Hughes loves his wastewater operator job despite its dirty, technical demands.
- He now also worries about cyberattacks that could stop water production.
Water As A Cyber Target
- The threat of cutting water off for Americans is real and documented by recent intrusions.
- Nation-state and criminal hackers have targeted utilities, showing water is an appealing target.
Lightning Knocked Out A System
- A lightning strike shut off power at the Cavendish plant and caused water loss that day.
- Hughes handles physical failures alongside emerging cyber threats in his routine work.