Electrical Espionage: Spies Hack Into the U.S. Power Grid

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Spies have hacked into the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could allow outside agents to seize control of the grid and disrupt the flow of electricity across the nation, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, [national security] officials said, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls. The intruders haven't sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure, but officials warned they could try during a crisis or war. "The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," said a senior intelligence official. "So have the Russians" [The Wall Street Journal]. While officials say they traced the intrusions back to China, Russia, and other countries, experts say it's nearly impossible to prove that the hacks were government-sponsored. The Chinese and Russian governments have denied any wrongdoing.

Officials say that water, sewage, and other infrastructure systems are also at risk. However, the officials added that they don't see an immediate danger. China, for example, has little incentive to disrupt the U.S. economy because it relies on American consumers and holds U.S. government debt [The Wall Street Journal].

The report follows a Pentagon announcement Tuesday which showed more than $100 million was spent in the last six months responding to and repairing damage from cyber attacks and other computer network problems, military leaders said…. "The important thing is that we recognize that we are under assault from the least sophisticated - what I would say the bored teenager - all the way up to the sophisticated nation-state, with some pretty criminal elements sandwiched in-between" [CBS], says Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton. The Obama administration has been conducting a cybesecurity review to respond to growing concerns; it is due to be released next week.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/...-us-power-grid/

[mawilson 2,133]

Un-effing-believable.

Isn't it essentially a declaration of war?

Shouldn't we retaliate?

[justashooter 430]

what the hell do you think i was doing in china for 4 years?

[Amby 490]

what the hell do you think i was doing in china for 4 years?

f*cking prostitutes?

that's what I get from your posts.

[pedroh 21]

what the hell do you think i was doing in china for 4 years?

so besides being a bridge builder, and wine maker, you're also Jack Bauer?

[NickD 203]

Let's not be naughty.

Thomas Edison is probably having the last laugh now, but was laughed out when he proposed building a power station on every city block, that would be impossible to sabotage. Also wasn't so wet either about using DC as practically all of our appliances today go through the step of converting AC to DC first. Edison was just 130 years ahead of his time.

In the early stages of automation development using computer control, manual override was a must have, software nuts have taken over since then. Recall the greatest invention after the automatic camera, was the automatic camera with manual override.

A lot of our current vulnerabilities is of our own making, mainly because we have idiots in charge that can only think about making a cent for the stockholders with no regards for the consequences.

I am also guilty of bashing, but basically the idiots that have created these problems.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

what the hell do you think i was doing in china for 4 years?

so besides being a bridge builder, and wine maker, you're also Jack Bauer?

Don't sell him short there, Pedroh - he's also a Tony Award-winning playright, a critically acclaimed painter and a champion race car driver.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

[Peikko 1,575]

I think this might be FP's response to yesterdays charge that Obama is wrong to want to protect the interwebz. Of course, I might be wrong...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think this might be FP's response to yesterdays charge that Obama is wrong to want to protect the interwebz. Of course, I might be wrong...

MC, seriously...stfu

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I was thinking the same thing as MC. ^

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So did I. Why underline those parts of the article - if it isn't about connecting the dots?

[Peikko 1,575]

I think this might be FP's response to yesterdays charge that Obama is wrong to want to protect the interwebz. Of course, I might be wrong...

MC, seriously...stfu

OK, put your signs out FP. MC not welcome here.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think this might be FP's response to yesterdays charge that Obama is wrong to want to protect the interwebz. Of course, I might be wrong...

MC, seriously...stfu

OK, put your signs out FP. MC not welcome here.

How about add something to the thread instead of chasing me around like a little lost puppy?

So did I. Why underline those parts of the article - if it isn't about connecting the dots?

Now all we need is BY and you two will turn this into a 16 page thread about daisies.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think this might be FP's response to yesterdays charge that Obama is wrong to want to protect the interwebz. Of course, I might be wrong...

MC, seriously...stfu

OK, put your signs out FP. MC not welcome here.

How about add something to the thread instead of chasing me around like a little lost puppy?

FP, you are having issues here. Lost puppy? Chasing you? I don't post in every thread you post in and if you were thinking rationally you would know that. I did connect the two stories, so sue me. Now, if you like, I will deliberately not post anywhere you post as an artificial constraint on myself because you seem to have lost all sense of reality at the moment.