Marc Maiffret in 2009. He recently exposed weaknesses in a Southern California water system. Such vulnerabilities exist in crucial facilities nationwide, U.S. officials say. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)Virtual War A Real Threat -- Chicago Tribune
The U.S. is vulnerable to a cyber attack, with its electrical grids, pipelines, chemical plants and other infrastructure designed without security in mind. Some say not enough is being done to protect the country.
Reporting from Washington - When a large Southern California water system wanted to probe the vulnerabilities of its computer networks, it hired Los Angeles-based hacker Marc Maiffret to test them. His team seized control of the equipment that added chemical treatments to drinking water — in one day.
The weak link: County employees had been logging into the network through their home computers, leaving a gaping security hole. Officials of the urban water system told Maiffret that with a few mouse clicks, he could have rendered the water undrinkable for millions of homes.
"There's always a way in," said Maiffret, who declined to identify the water system for its own protection.
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My Comment: This article gives a small insight into the impact that cyber warfare may have on you and me, and the damages that it can bring.