I honestly shouldn’t weigh in here, but I will. If we look at the threat matrix, the highest threat to the US comes from internet hacking of the electrical grid by way of introduction of a Stuxnet type virus. Interesting thing about that is that there are two likely attackers, N. Korea and Iran and Iran is the number one threat. The prime target would be the grid controller systms in the Northeast and along the West Coast and in Illinois. A successful attack would cripple switching/load balancing systems across a major portion of the grid. When that happens, water supplies fail and the Urban Animals go viral within 48 hours just like Katrina.
I think the recent hack attacks on gov’t sites and banks in the last two weeks have this Federal Gov’t seriously concerned about a grid hack, or worse, multiple grid hacks. If it happens, the only thing people will be able to do will be to flee the cities as fast as humanly possible and BEFORE the DHS/Military pours in and chokes off all avenues of escape. And worse, its obvious they’re training for this. We’ve seen helicopter drills in Houston/Pasadena and there were many sitings of Black Hawk helicopters over West Houston this weekend. And they’re stock piling military gear at a brand new Army facility on I-45 just north of Beltway 8. What really worries me is that they’ll close all avenues of escape before anyone can get out to increase their body count.
Stuxnet was written by US government employees.
Whither the threat?