Can China shut us down? That question was asked at a House intelligence committee meeting in Washington, DC. The answer is a disturbing yes.
According to US Cyber Command top leader Admiral Michael Rodgers, China and a couple of other nations have the potential to cyber attack our electric grid and other major computer systems. The danger of a major foreign cyber attack has been fairly well known for years, but this is the first time it’s been confirmed by a major cyber security leader. We’re not just talking something that can disrupt a computer, but can disrupt treatment facilities, even nuclear plants, and entire online retail networks. Admiral Rodgers warns these powerful hackers can virtually do anything they want with little trace or consequence. the Admiral also warns cyber economic espionage has gotten so strong, skilled and sophisticated that their ability can do intense damage to our economic future. And the hackers have little to fear because there’s so much allusiveness and very little accountability.
I’m not writing this to scare anybody nor am I fear peddling. I believe this issue should be addressed sooner than later. But I thank Admiral Rodgers for letting us know about this potential threat. Knowledge is the first step. He also says things can be done to combat the threat. He urged Congress to pass a bill allowing companies to share online threats with the government and each other. But that’s going to be a difficult to pass in the wake of the NSA’s Edward Snowden scandal last year. But something has to be done. Imagine going hours, or even days, without any electricity, nuclear power or Internet connection all over America. Imagine the economic and social calamities a major power grid hack could cause. One Asian country had to endure that several weeks ago. What can we civilians do? One thing we can do is call our state and federal representatives and call on them to the proper steps necessary to protect our infrastructure, without putting our civil liberties or civil rights at risk. What else can be done to protect our cyber entities?