Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Last One Out, Turn Out The Lights

In the middle of the great big noisy mess that was "Live Free Or Die Hard" was a cyber-terrorist who hoped to bring the United States to its knees by shutting down the country's infrastructure. That was two years ago. Now we get the news that, in fact, our power grid is vulnerable to potentially disabling computer attacks. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters this little tidbit, while declining to comment on reports that an intrusion had taken place.
The hacking in question was most likely the work of Chinese cyberspies, at least that's what the Wall Street Journal would like us to know. The Chinese, the Russians, and a few other smaller countries. And it's not just the power grid. How about the sewer system too?
So far, the bad guys haven't done any damage. They're just leaving behind software that can be switched on in the event of international crisis or war. So what are they waiting for?
Maybe it's because we've got just as many worms and bugs in the networks of companies and countries all over the world. The notion that the United States would be quietly minding their own cyber-business while other nations' geeks are hunting and pecking their way into our backyards seems a little ridiculous. No circuits are waterboarded, after all.
Frankly, I blame that Mac guy.

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