Connecticut utilities hacked without disrupting services

Electric, natural gas and major water companies, along with regional distribution systems, were penetrated, but defenses prevented interruption, according to a report by state utility regulators.

The report did not identify the names of the organizations that were compromised or say how the hacks occurred.

Regulators said merely screening for employees with no criminal background is inadequate. The report warned that breaches could come from employees with ideological sympathies that "motivate disruptive behavior." And it said it's virtually impossible to thoroughly vet all employees with potential contact to operations, including maintenance and food services.

ThreatWatch is a regularly updated catalog of data breaches successfully striking every sector of the globe, as reported by journalists, researchers and the victims themselves.