Cyberspies break into US electrical grid

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From Reuters

Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls, the newspaper said, citing current and former U.S. national security officials.

The intruders have not sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure but officials said they could try during a crisis or war, the paper said in a report on its website.

"The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," a senior intelligence official told the Journal. "So have the Russians."

The espionage appeared pervasive across the United States and does not target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official.

"There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official told the paper, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year."

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama was not immediately available for comment on the newspaper report.

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.

Protecting the electrical grid and other infrastructure is a key part of the Obama administration's cybersecurity review, which is to be completed next week.

The sophistication of the U.S. intrusions, which extend beyond electric to other key infrastructure systems, suggests that China and Russia are mainly responsible, according to intelligence officials and cybersecurity specialists.

While terrorist groups could develop the ability to penetrate U.S. infrastructure, they do not appear to have yet mounted attacks, these officials say.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090408/us_nm/us_cyberattack_usa
 
Do they not have anything better to do? I mean yes America is vunerable right now but give them a break! if they really wanted to screw America over though they would and should have just shut it down. I mean what kind of idiot breaks into the American database for such things and just explores it? If i were him I would be sitting wherever i am smoking and drinking while watching America fall into panic. But I am not and i doubt i will ever do something like this.
 
Mitchman Is said:
Do they not have anything better to do? I mean yes America is vunerable right now but give them a break! if they really wanted to screw America over though they would and should have just shut it down. I mean what kind of idiot breaks into the American database for such things and just explores it? If i were him I would be sitting wherever i am smoking and drinking while watching America fall into panic. But I am not and i doubt i will ever do something like this.
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It's probably just a test to see how easily they can break into the system and navigate it, just in case they need to do it for real. The article says that software was left behind that, if activated, could down the system, so they were doing more than just exploring.
 
They can. Its called China being insane as usual and Russia finally calling the shots. Which I would be scared to see. Only cause I do not want to go through a world war while in Europe. While being only 10 countries away from Russia.
 
If there is another World War, I very much doubt that it would be held in Europe as the previous two were. I'm more inclined to think that it would be held across the Pacific. Of course, any new World War would be waged using nuclear weapons, and thus humanity would end.

What I find funny is that, if China and Russia have been doing this to the American systems you can bet that the Americans have been doing it too, perhaps on an even wider scale. Funny how thats been overlooked so far.
 
No doubt we in the United States will want to improve our cybersecurity capabilities, thereby beating back these hackers out of China, Russia, or wherever they may be. Cyberwarfare may get to be increasingly prominent within the next few years, and unfortunately, if America collapses, the rest of this world might be next. Anyone up for finding out which scenario would be worse?
 
If they were able to detect the intrusions into the grid, then were the gov. officials able to stop the intrusion? While I'm sure the U.S. is at least looking into the problem, I wonder if the government at large is doing anything more than protect the most critical parts of the grid (electrical plants and such.)
Worse case scenario would probably be if an ally hacked into our computers, the government probably freak out and go protectionist. Then interfere in all parts of the world using "they did ___." Which would push say Russia/Iran/China to flex their muscle, and a war occurs. That's my worst case scenario. XD
 
This is what we get for having old people who can barely turn on a computer in charge of our government.
 
Most of Congress is over 60. No one is anywhere near the lowest required age.
 
That age is what 35 no? We need some people in there that can go to the bathroom without a diaper at least.
 
If someone wants to hack something. They can do it. With their knowlegde of the specifications of their work
 
Mitchman Is said:
That age is what 35 no? We need some people in there that can go to the bathroom without a diaper at least.
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35 is President. 30 is Senate. 25 is House.

No one in the Senate is under 40. Can't find anything for the current makeup of the House.
 
And it's these Republican senators that carry on the hate from their state on the other party issues and such. Can't wait for the next generation of senators to take their place. Hopefully some will have a brain.
 
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