The U.S. electrical grid has been penetrated by foreign agents who inserted software that could attack the computer-controlled system, according to national security officials ("Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies," The Wall Street Journal, April 8, 2009). While the cyberspies haven't yet damaged the system, they could certainly try to create major electrical disruptions in a war or international crisis.

Troublingly, many of the infiltrations weren't detected by the electrical companies themselves, but by American intelligence services investigating vulnerabilities in the system. They determined that the intrusions originated in Russia, China and other countries and were widespread across all regions of the country. They also discovered that other infrastructure systems such as water and sewage were at risk of attack.

"Over the past several years, we have seen cyberattacks against critical infrastructures abroad, and many of our own infrastructures are as vulnerable as their foreign counterparts," acknowledged Dennis Blair, U.S. Director of National Intelligence. One such attack last year disabled power equipment in several areas outside the United States.

In recent years the U.S. government has allocated $17 billion to protect government networks, and is now considering expanding its efforts by billions more to help protect private computer networks. A military official noted that the Pentagon had spent $100 million in recent months to repair damage from cyberattacks.

The threat to advanced nations is clearly serious. Just imagine the chaos and suffering that would result if electrical and water systems suddenly stopped functioning across large regions or entire nations. Transportation, food, water and heat would cease, and governments would be largely powerless to help. (Source: The Wall Street Journal.)