Springfield
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Water pump reportedly destroyed by SCADA hackers
The FBI and DHS are investigating damage to a public water system in Springfield, Illinois, which may have been the target of a foreign cyber attack. There's no threat to public safety and criminal interference has not been officially confirmed, but a security researcher called Joe Weiss has reported evidence that hackers based in Russia are to blame. He claims they accessed the water plant's SCADA online control system and used it to repeatedly switch a pump on and off, eventually causing it to burn out. Coincidentally, a water treatment facility was publicly hacked at the Black Hat conference back in August, precisely to highlight this type of vulnerability. If there are any SCADA administrators out there who haven't already replaced their '1234' and 'admin' passwords, then they might consider this a reminder.
Three more HD channels come to Springfield, IL's Comcast lineup
As the wave of new HD channels continues to roll around and hit random Comcast systems across the nation, Springfield, Illinois has become the latest city to get gifted. Just in time for New Year's Day, locals in the area can find FOX News HD, FX HD and SPEED HD on slots 950, 948 and 946, respectively. The new trio brings the total HD adds since April to 25, and we're certain subscribers in the region are hoping the end isn't anywhere in sight.
Mediacom seeing high demand for HD DVRs, adding more HD in Springfield, MO
While we genuinely feel for the HD junkies in Springfield, Missouri who are on a 200-person deep waiting list for an HD DVR, we can't help but smile at the news. Even during these bizarre economic times, the value in high-def programming is obviously shining through. Mediacom Region Operations VP Larry Peterson was quoted as saying that HD DVRs "are the holy grail right now; we've got three different manufacturers we use to try to get the boxes available and it just seems as soon as we get them in, they go out." In related news, the carrier will also be adding in eight new high-def channels on December 17th: WGN, TBS, CNN, SciFi, A&E, History, HGTV, and Food Network. Might explain the uptick in demand, wouldn't you say?
AT&T well on its way to offering U-verse TV in Springfield, IL
It should come as no surprise that AT&T is hard at work expanding its U-verse network in the state of Illinois. After all, the carrier agreed to provide U-verse to "all areas of the state" in exchange for a license that covered Chicago. At any rate, a new report in The State Journal-Register asserts that AT&T is "well along with construction of a fiber-optic network on the north side of Springfield," and construction was affirmed to be in progress by an unnamed company spokeswoman. Sadly, no estimated launch date was talked about, but we suppose it's hard to grumble about progress.
DirecTV uncorks HD locals in Springfield-Holyoke, MA / Savannah, GA
Now that we've officially hit fall here in the US of A, we suppose DirecTV should revamp is HD rollout plans to include this season. Nevertheless, the satcaster is slowly but surely wrapping up its summer plans by bringing HD locals to the Springfield-Holyoke, Massachusetts and Savannah, Georgia DMAs. Both markets can now tune into their local CBS, NBC and ABC affiliates in HD, though FOX was strangely omitted for both. Hope you weren't looking forward to the World Series in high-def or anything...Read - Springfield-Holyoke, MA rolloutRead - Savannah, Georgia
DirecTV adds local HD channels in Little Rock, Springfield, MO and Baton Rouge
Check a few more areas off of DirecTV's summer hit list, with the Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Springfield Missouri and Baton Rouge, Louisiana markets all experiencing HD locals starting today. According to the satellite company, that adds up to 85 cities and 78 percent of U.S. households served, with 36 more markets to add before the end of the year. The long list continues to unfurl, we're guessing DirecTV had a pretty awesome "what I did over my summer vacation" story for the rest of the class.Read - Little Rock-Pine BluffRead - SpringfieldRead - Baton Rouge
