The spies looked for ways to navigate and control the U.S. power grid, water and sewage infrastructure. The programs they left behind could be used to disrupt the aforementioned systems. 

 

The cyber spies were from China, Russia and other countries. Their mission is believed to have been the navigation into the U.S. electricity system and its controls, the report said citing U.S. national security officials. No harm was done to the system, but in case of a war situation it would be a piece of a larger puzzle. 

 

"The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," a senior intelligence official told the Journal. "So have the Russians."

 

It’s not the first time media reports cover the vulnerability of the nation’s electricity grid. With this report the awareness should rise to new heights. A report posted a few weeks ago showed that someone with $500 worth of equipment and the right training could penetrate the electricity grid and disrupt the system where it wishes. Let’s hope the Obama administration makes the solving of this problem a priority. 

 

However, although the grid is vulnerable and it wasn’t kept a secret, terrorist did not show interest in attacking it so far. Wonder why? Perhaps they never did have such interests.