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Massive Power Outages In Brazil Caused By Hackers

Hugh Pickens writes "CBS reports on 60 minutes that a massive two-day power outage in Brazil's Espirito Santo State affecting more than three million people in 2007, and another, smaller event in three cities north of Rio de Janeiro in January 2005, were perpetrated by hackers manipulating control systems. Former Chief of US National Intelligence Retired Adm. Mike McConnell says that the 'United States is not prepared for such an attack' and believes it could happen in America. 'If I were an attacker and wanted to do strategic damage to the United States, I would either take the cold of winter or the heat of summer,' says McConnell, 'I would probably sack electric power on the US East Coast, maybe the West Coast and attempt to cause a cascading effect.' Congressman Jim Langevin says that US power companies need to be forced to deal with the issue after they told Congress they would take steps to defend their operations but did not follow up. 'They admit that they misled Congress. The private sector has different priorities than we do in providing security. Their bottom line is about profits,' says Langevin. 'We need to change their motivation so that when see vulnerability like this, we can require them to fix it.' McConnell adds that a similar attack to the one in Brazil is poised to take place on US soil and that it may take some horrific event to get the country focused on shoring up cyber security. 'If the power grid was taken off line in the middle of winter and it caused people to suffer and die, that would galvanize the nation. I hope we don't get there.'"

5 of 462 comments (clear)

  1. Liberals by similar_name · · Score: 4, Funny

    More liberal regulation. Doesn't everyone know that capitalism is best for us? Those that control the energy industry seek money and that in America is a worthwhile goal in and of itself. Money fixes everything. After all our money says 'In God We Trust'. It's practically blessed. The golden calf is god.

    I haven't been modded troll or flamebait in a long time, just thought I'd try it out.

  2. and the attack stopped by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    just because the hacker didn't have an UPS...

  3. Re:Like we'd respond that well by lennier · · Score: 3, Funny

    "RIAA/MPAA sleezeballs capitalizing on it in ways I don't even want to contemplate."

    When you install photoelectric panels, you're BURNING our fossil fuel industry!

    Passive home heating is like passive smoking: IT KILLS! Insist on genuine 2000 Megawatt active air conditioning from a certified generation station.

    You wouldn't steal a car... so why build a windmill? Just because all your friends are doing it doesn't make it right!

    Firewood is BOLSHEVISM!

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    You are not a brain: http://books.google.com/books?id=2oV61CeDx-YC
  4. Re:Otherwise summarized as: by v1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unsecure infrastructure networks vulnerable to internet based attack.

    Movie at 10.

    Movie Postponed due to power failure.

    --
    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
  5. Re:Good luck with that by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

    It wouldn't be safe from cat burglars.

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    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!