April 8th 2009
International spies have penetrated the U.S. power grid, leaving software that could be used to further disrupt the nation’s infrastructure, FOX News confirmed Wednesday.
U.S. officials believe the culprits are be spies from a number of countries including Russia and China, though the Washington embassies for both nations deny any state involvement. “The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid,” a senior intelligence official told the Wall Street Journal. “So have the Russians.”
Intrusions of this nature have been occurring over the past few years. Spies have infiltrated not only the electrical power system, but the water and sewage systems as well. There is concern that other critical systems could be compromised at a later date.
“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,” Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told lawmakers. “A number of nations, including Russia and China, can disrupt elements of the U.S. information infrastructure.”
