Foreign Hackers Infiltrate U.S Electrical Grid
Foreign Hackers Infiltrate U.S Electrical Grid
Posted 04/09/2009 at 5:35pm
| by Pulkit Chandna
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Cyberspies have reportedly maneuvered themselves into such a position of strength that they can literally pull the plug from the U.S electrical grid whenever they like. According to a Wall Street Journal report, which is based on input from unnamed security officials (retired and serving), foreign spies have not only breached the electrical grid’s ramparts but also left behind software that could allow them to cripple the system.
Officials say that the spies – thought to be from Russia, China and other countries – only wanted to take stock of the American electrical infrastructure and intended no immediate harm. "There are intrusions, and they are growing," a former Department of Homeland Security official told the WSJ.
Both the Russians and Chinese have rebuffed the allegations against them. It is difficult to ascertain whether or not these cyber-saboteurs are acting at the behest of a foreign government.
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Muerte
April 10, 2009 at 6:51am
I'm pretty sure the only thing you can do remotely is to monitor readouts. What you can find out from them is enough to do some major damage but the damage has to be physical, i.e. bomb in the right spot or stress certain nodes into failure.
I'm pretty sure there is no on/off switch that can be done remotely. That would be stupid.
But who knows for sure?
jcollins
April 10, 2009 at 9:34am
I'm not sure about other parts of the country, but in California, they've been pushing smart electronics so they can turn them off remotely when they're low on power. I believe it's mainly centered around air conditioning, and I'm assuming that there's not been much buy in on the consumer side ("you want to control my air conditioning for a teensy bit off on my power bill???"). However, it does mean that the potential is there for being able to control the power of the consumers.
hiremenow
April 10, 2009 at 6:44am
Dude what do you mean it cant happen!?!?!? our power grid was just f-ing hacked (just like in Live Free or Die Hard) Nothing is ever truly unhackable (something you ought to know.) if they can compromise the power grid lord only knows what else they can do.
quickone
April 10, 2009 at 5:49am
The Air Force was just about to stand up an entire major command dedicated
to cyber warfare. The DoD pulled the plug just before it was finished
and instead gave us a numbered air force. Kind of
like going from an entire city working on cyber warfare to a city block. One
would be surprised how far we are behind other countries in using cyber
as a means of attack and how far behind we are in protecting against it.
DMI PC Repair
April 09, 2009 at 9:47pm
Has anyone heard the term misinformation before. Does anyone really believe our nations power grid is accessable through the internet. I give my country a little credit for not putting the grid online. But, to come out and say that our power has been hacked? Try more like a very sensitive server on Web 2.0 got hacked. Come on Obama let's have that transparent government you were talking about.
For the record, all you noobs..... Just cause you saw it in a movie doesn't mean it can happen.
hiremenow
April 09, 2009 at 8:52pm
This is F-ing bull $*@% now the power grid whats next NORAD?!?!? This country has no idea what is out there. Bush's biggest weakness was computer security and that is going to bite us in the ass. like in Live Free or Die Hard that is what is going to happen if Obama's Cyber Security advisor doesn't get off his ass and do something!!!
jcollins
April 10, 2009 at 9:36am
Yeah, unfortunately that sort of thing happens when you have an anti-science president in power... :(
nekollx
April 10, 2009 at 10:42am
"God was made in a test tube so why shouldi trust your 'sciece'!" ah good old Bush....
vistageek
April 09, 2009 at 6:43pm
So, how the F did this happen and wtf are we doing about it! Just imaging what would happen if all power in the US was suddanly shut off. ANd how do you put a piece of software into apower line?
Sonickid101
April 09, 2009 at 6:08pm
Why the hell are these power systems even online thats just asking for trouble, Die Hard 3 anyone? only before the start pf WWIII.
ferds7
April 09, 2009 at 8:41pm
Aweful movie that makes non-techy people believe certain things and who then annoy myself and the tech support people who sit by me with lame questions about why we can't do certain things.
I guess this gives good reasoning to why one should be not so dependant on the grid and self-reliant.
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