Plutonium

Plutonium, also known as Jumpy Pisces and Andariel, is a notable threat actor historically involved in cyberespionage, financial crime, and ransomware attacks. Recent reports indicate that this group has been breaching the IT systems of Sellafield, a site that holds the world's largest stockpile of plutonium, since 2015. These cyberattacks, reportedly backed by Russia and China, have allegedly been consistently covered up by senior staff at the site. The Group Cyberspace Collaboration Centre (GCCC), opened by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) near Sellafield, is likely to be a focal point for future cybersecurity efforts. The nuclear landscape is further complicated by recent activities in North Korea. The U.N. atomic agency and independent experts suggest that North Korea has begun operating a light-water reactor at its main nuclear complex, potentially securing a new source for weapons-grade plutonium. This development could enable Pyongyang to produce tritium for hydrogen bombs or conduct tests for developing small nuclear reactors used in nuclear-powered submarines. The lax regulatory environment of the mid-20th century, characterized by loose oversight of uranium and plutonium shipments, has contributed to the current situation. Former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Glenn Seaborg noted the difficulty of tracking losses in America's nascent nuclear industry due to poor accounting and government regulations. These historical oversights, coupled with ongoing cyber threats from groups like Plutonium, underscore the urgent need for robust security measures in the nuclear sector.