Nuclear lab faces niche cyber threat

'Furry Hacktivists' target Idaho National Laboratory for cat-human experiments

The self-proclaimed "gay furry hackers" from SiegedSec have successfully infiltrated the computer systems of the United States' largest nuclear power lab, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

According to The Register the group, known for previous breaches, has claimed responsibility for stealing records of thousands of employees, with some data already leaked.

The cyberattack targeted the INL, managed by the US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, resulting in the compromise of sensitive information, including social security numbers, physical addresses and bank account details. The lab has confirmed the breach, acknowledging that its human resources systems fell victim to the attack.

Lori McNamara, the spokesperson for INL, stated: "On Monday 20th November, Idaho National Laboratory determined that it was the target of a cybersecurity data breach in a federally approved vendor system outside the lab that supports INL cloud human resources services.

Law enforcement involved

The lab has taken swift action to address the situation, involving law enforcement and pledging to provide updates as the investigation progresses. East Idaho News independently verified the authenticity of the leaked information with several INL employees.

SiegedSec, not content with the data theft, has made an unusual demand. In exchange for removing the compromised staff records, the group is urging the lab to engage in some fairly niche experiments, specifically the creation of cat-human hybrids known as "catgirls." This request aligns with ideas and memes shared on some of the internets murkier spaces but is far from the laboratory's area of expertise.

The hacktivists claim to have gained access to "hundreds of thousands of user, employee, and citizen data," including full names, dates of birth, email addresses, social security numbers, and employment details.

INL, located in Idaho Falls, employs over 6,100 individuals and is renowned for its contributions to nuclear power development. The facility, with a history spanning 70 years, has played a pivotal role in nuclear energy research and boasts the densest concentration of nuclear reactors globally.

SiegedSec's motives for targeting INL remain unclear. In a previous breach of NATO's network, the group cited the military organisation's "attacks on human rights" as motivation, emphasising their enjoyment in leaking sensitive documents. The situation raises plenty of questions, not least that of the security of critical infrastructure and the growing threat of cyberattacks on institutions vital to national interests.