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US Electricity Grid Reportedly Penetrated By Spies

phantomfive worries about a report in the Wall Street Journal ("Makes me want to move to the country and dig a well") that in recent years a number of cyber attacks against US infrastructure have been launched over the Internet: "Cyberspies have penetrated the US 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 US 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."

16 of 328 comments (clear)

  1. Jesus Christ. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's a fire sale.

  2. Oh no... by Professeur+Shadoko · · Score: 2, Funny

    They must have the CIP module !

  3. Former officials... by onion2k · · Score: 4, Funny

    former national-security officials

    Aren't these people just admitting that they were incompetent? That's refreshingly honest of them.

  4. China and Russia? by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    China, Russia, and other countries,

    So you mean there are people capable of hacking the US energy grid but who can't start the attacks from a hacked box in Madagascar?

    "Who's attacking us?"
    "Sir, the attacks come from half a million infected machines all around the world."
    "From all coutries?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "So China and Russia too?"
    "Hmm, Yes, of course, sir"
    "Damn commies... We should've nuked them a long time ago."

  5. Re:Very convenient ... by Thanshin · · Score: 2, Funny

    this article reads like a well-crafted piece of BS, designed to put the N back into FUDing.

    Nuding?

  6. I couldn't resist... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    In Soviet Russia... the Grid penetrates the Spies!

    Sorry

  7. Re:Why are they on the internet? by jolyonr · · Score: 4, Funny

    On one they're controlling the power station, on the other they're reading slashdot.

    Unless typing 'FIRST POST! LOL' on the wrong box causes a reactor meltdown, I think we'll be ok :)

    Jolyon

    --


    Please read my Canon EOS tech blog at http://www.everyothershot.com
  8. Re:Remember, folks... by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whenever you're starting to focus on the reality of life, new fear WILL be injected into it to distract you.

    Oh god! I'm so afraid of the fear injecting big brother.

  9. Had to be done by TechnoFrood · · Score: 3, Funny

    Spy sappin' my generator.

  10. It's okay by psnyder · · Score: 3, Funny

    The module that allows outsiders to do this is called the CIP device. I hacks into the governments firewall. Who knew they had just one layer of protection over every bit of US infrastructure, that it's all linked together, and that it could be so easily circumvented by a genius hostage in a matter of hours?

    But it's okay. A man by the name of Jack Bauer has been alerted to the situation. And knowing his previous record I'm confident that he will deal with the crisis, because all of the bad people operate within driving distance to him.

  11. Re:Big surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Citation please.

    Here.

  12. Re:Remember, folks... by wisty · · Score: 3, Funny

    If "they" wanted to do real damage, wouldn't they invade the financial systems, rather than power grids?

    Or maybe they did, but were unable sabotage anything without making it better.

  13. Re:Remember, folks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    because Americans would have no reason to hack into their own government's systems.

    No they wouldn't. All of America's problems have been fixed. Your racism is blinding you to this fact.

  14. Spy sappin' mah sentry! by PNP_Transistor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or rather, "Spy sappin' mah power grid!"

  15. Re:Remember, folks... by ovu · · Score: 2, Funny

    +1 ugh for living in LA for a week even WITH the electricity!

  16. Re:Remember, folks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    5 to 10 people working together with a few resources could black out the entire west coast for weeks if not months.

    lucky for me i am on the east coast