Radiation safety

Nuclear power plants vulnerable to hacking attack in 'nightmare scenario', UN warns

The “nightmare scenario” of radioactive material being released from nuclear power stations using a cyber attack is being attempted by terrorist groups, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) has warned. 

Jan Eliasson told the UN Security Council “vicious non-state groups” were making efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and warned: “These weapons are increasingly accessible.”

A hacking attack on a nuclear power plant would be a “nightmare scenario”, he added.