I came across this article about a simulated cyber attack carried out by various US government agencies.
“Cyber security is critical to protecting our nation’s infrastructure because information systems connect so many aspects of our economy and society,” George Foresman, DHS undersecretary for preparedness, said in a statement.
“‘Cyber Storm’ provides an excellent opportunity to enhance our nation’s cyber preparedness and better manage risk,” he said.
I think this concern is very valid, and I wonder how prepared the US really is for an attack of this nature. With the proliferation of viruses and spyware, it seems like a tall task to ensure the security of government infrastructures. It also seems that the “war on terror” is counting on overt military action to protect us from future attacks.
This is just speculation since the full report for this exercise isn’t due out until the summer, but I would guess that a coordinated cyber attack would be largely successful at this moment. I really don’t think we’re prepared, and that’s a scary thought.