Demonstration of Man in the Middle Attack on a Feeder Power Factor Correction Unit

Abstract

Cyber security of distribution power systems is of an increasing and pressing importance due to the fast modernisation of current systems. Cyber attacks on distribution power systems may aim to operate the system inefficiently, steal private smart meter data or cause intentional false tripping of few or all feeders. In this paper, a Man in The Middle (MiTM) attack on a power factor correction unit is implemented and demonstrated to overload a distribution feeder and cause an intentional false tripping of the entire feeder causing regional blackout. Experimental implementation of the attack is carried out in a laboratory-scale setup using commercial power equipment under different loading conditions to demonstrate the effectiveness of this attack.