Spies into Electrical Grid

[Delphine]

Russia used grid "warfare" before attaking Georgia. The Homeland Security Chief seems to be playing this report down????? (Fox News)


From: The Wall Street Journal

• TECHNOLOGY
• APRIL 8, 2009

Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies



Robert Moran monitors an electric grid in Dallas. Such infrastructure grids across the country are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

WASHINGTON -- Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, according to current and former national-security officials.

The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, these 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 espionage appeared pervasive across the U.S. and doesn't target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official. "There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official said, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year."

Many of the intrusions were detected not by the companies in charge of the infrastructure but by U.S. intelligence agencies, officials said. Intelligence officials worry about cyber attackers taking control of electrical facilities, a nuclear power plant or financial networks via the Internet.

Authorities investigating the intrusions have found software tools left behind that could be used to destroy infrastructure components, the senior intelligence official said. He added, "If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on."

Officials said water, sewage and other infrastructure systems also were at risk.

[VOguy]

Does anyone remember the 2003 Blackout in the N.E?

Supposedly, a tree fell on a power line and that started a cascade effect across the N.E. U.S. One employee said it was a computer problem, and was silenced pretty quick, (a sure sign of cover up).

Years later there are no less than eight "official" reasons why it happened.