HACKERS FROM CHINA, RUSSIA, COULD DISRUPT AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE

Most people would agree that controlling the United States’ power grid using the same vulnerable technology that runs a home computer probably wasn’t the best idea.

Sadly, “most people” could be the ones in trouble as that stupid decision could allow the U.S. to be a casualty in the new cyberspace war.

A new reports says that cyberspies, from China and Russia, have hacked into the U.S. power grid and left behind software that could disrupt American infrastructure.

The report in the Wall Street Journal said that the intruders have not yet sought to damage the nation’s electric grid, but that they could try in a war or some other crisis. Government officials declined to comment on the report.

Congressional investigators and intelligence officials have warned before that electric utilities are vulnerable to cyber attacks. CIA analyst Tom Donahue told utility engineers at a conference last year that in other countries, hackers had broken into electric utilities and demanded payments before disrupting power — in one case turning off the lights in multiple cities.

Stewart Baker, the former assistant secretary for policy at the Homeland Security Department, said Wednesday that electric grids have been hacked for years, and that he would not be surprised if China, Russia and other countries had taken part. [AP]

I’m starting to feel a little bad for our power grid.

First, an impending solar storm threatens to send the entire world back into the 17th Century. And now cyberspies have gained access to our entire electric grid.

Someone really needs to get on this. I’m looking at you, “The One.”

Nothing urgent, of course. Just maybe when the “Trash America Tour” wraps up.

Photo: AP