US to help secure Baltic energy grid against cyber attacks

The United States and Baltic states on Sunday agreed to beef up cooperation to protect the Baltic energy grid from cyber attacks as they disconnect from the Russian electricity grid.

US Energy Secretary Rick Perry and his Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian counterparts termed the agreement "a critical moment for the Baltic States in strengthening cybersecurity" in strategic energy infrastructure.

"We see a crucial role that US could play in assisting the Baltic States with strategic and technical support," the four officials said in a joint declaration signed in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

Lithuania said it was looking for US technology firms able to modernise software used to control energy systems to prevent attacks by Russian hackers that could disrupt energy supplies.

"Lithuanian energy sector remains a Russian cyber target, the network system is constantly being scanned for gaps, therefore we seek US security technologies in our energy production and distribution systems," ...