In addition to the article I just posted about the vulnerability of our power grid, I thought to post this video which echoes similar warnings. As we modernize our grid system and tie it into the Internet we simultaneously leave the door open to hackers. I’m sure you’ve seen those commercials where happy people turn on their alarm system or adjust the temperature in their home from their iPhone. Why wouldn’t someone with malicious intent try to exploit that opening, but on a much larger scale? It’s very scary when you think about the possibilities.
The front door is open and there is no lock to be had. I’ll state right now, that there is not a power meter or device on the grid that is protected from hacking if not already infected with some sort of Trojan Horse that can cause it to be shut down, damaged or completely annihilated. We can’t take a massive outage all at once. When we say it goes down we’re talking about generators going out, we’re talking about coal plants being damaged, we’re talking about destruction of equipment. This isn’t just a matter of electrons going around and shutting off and moving data, physical equipment can be damaged.
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