Posted on 04/09/2009 3:04:57 AM PDT by shove_it
U.S. concerns about the potential for cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure extended to the American electrical power grid on Wednesday and experts pointed the finger anew at Chinese hackers, among others.
As a result, electric utilities are likely to face new pressures from the U.S. Congress and government regulators to tighten security and preparations against computer intrusions that would wreak widespread havoc.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters the power grid is vulnerable to potentially disabling computer attacks, while declining to comment on reports that an intrusion had taken place.
"The vulnerability is something that the Department of Homeland Security and the energy sector have known about for years," she said. "We acknowledge that ... in this world, in an increasingly cyber world, these are increasing risks."
Napolitano spoke after The Wall Street Journal reported that cyber-spies had penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system.
The Journal said the intruders have not sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure but could try during a crisis or war.
The United States for several years has accused the Chinese and Russians, among others, of using cyber-attacks to try to steal American trade secrets, military secrets and government secrets.
James Lewis, cyber-security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Russia and China have long been considered culprits in computer spying and that the United States, France and Germany have all complained to China in particular.
"In four out of five cases we really can't be sure who's doing it but in the (other) 20 percent it points very often to China and Russia."
A former U.S. security official told Reuters that the Chinese have been particularly active.
[...]
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Of course it’s vulnerable, everything we have and need is, we’ve been flopped over on our back, with our soft belly unprotected!
We live in “hurricane” country, so we have a generator (that’ll keep our food frozen as long as we have gas.) I just asked my husband last night, about our “store” of gas, in case we lose electricity. We have lots of plastic gas cans and it might be time to fill them up, even though hurricane season isn’t upon us yet. If electricity goes out, so do the pumps that put out the gas.
Our leaders and their liberal relatives have torn American manhood and families down for decades. See the divorce/cohabitation industry, hiring preferences, university preferences, preferences for foreign slaves,... They haven’t seen the worst of the consequences, yet.
Convert the generator to LP and get a bigger tank. It will be cheaper, and SAFER! It will also run cleaner, and store longer...
I bought a new generator about 6 months ago, it’s ready to run.
Back in the 60’s conservatives argued against puting all our power grid eggs in one basket.But noooo, the commiecRATS had to have it all tied together in one cute national grid. (rant over)
ML/NJ
This seems a little too convenient to not be an excuse to build a new power grid.
Live free or Die hard!
Welcome to Free Republic.
This is a warning to us. Why? Does the Obama administration plan on shutting down the power grid?
I'd be more worried about someone blowing up a couple of towers in the middle of the woods and shutting down the whole grid.
If they already know harmful software has been planted, why can’t it be removed?
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