Here's a thought experiment:
What if, as storms swept the South this week, everything had worked fine in Texas. Just super cold with pictures of people sledding.
Then, on Tuesday, international hackers had cut off power plants & water plants. Texas plunged into chaos.
What if, as storms swept the South this week, everything had worked fine in Texas. Just super cold with pictures of people sledding.
Then, on Tuesday, international hackers had cut off power plants & water plants. Texas plunged into chaos.
2/ Our reaction would have been fury & determination.
The thought experiment unfortunately cuts both ways with equal sharpness.
First, we should approach fixing the problems across the South — and the nation — with the urgency & determination we would if we'd been attacked.
The thought experiment unfortunately cuts both ways with equal sharpness.
First, we should approach fixing the problems across the South — and the nation — with the urgency & determination we would if we'd been attacked.
3/ Our infrastructure systems are vulnerable in ways we can figure out, but aren't ready for right now.
For instance: Why are water plants so vulnerable to power failures? What magnifies the disaster of no electricity like no water?
For instance: Why are water plants so vulnerable to power failures? What magnifies the disaster of no electricity like no water?
4/ We should uncover those problems & insist on resilience.
Cost? Pfft. What's the cost of this one 7-day disaster across Texas? How will those costs spiral forward for weeks & months?
Being ready is cheap, not expensive. We see the disasters that result from *not* being ready.
Cost? Pfft. What's the cost of this one 7-day disaster across Texas? How will those costs spiral forward for weeks & months?
Being ready is cheap, not expensive. We see the disasters that result from *not* being ready.
5/ …What if the Texas power & water failures had been the result of hacking?…
Here's the second way the thought experiment is vital & chilling:
Hackers could have done it.
Here's the second way the thought experiment is vital & chilling:
Hackers could have done it.
6/ If you listen to the critical reporting of David Sanger (@SangerNYT) & Nicole Perlroth (@nicoleperlroth) — among others — you know how vulnerable we are.
The hackers are inside our electric grid & water systems. The ones that work for gov'ts got a revealing 'test' this week.
The hackers are inside our electric grid & water systems. The ones that work for gov'ts got a revealing 'test' this week.
7/ Look what chaos a few days of no electricity, no water, and no resilience can wreak across a single US state, when it's cold.
Sure, we're inside *their* systems too. But what good is that? The goal isn't retaliation, it's prevention.
Sure, we're inside *their* systems too. But what good is that? The goal isn't retaliation, it's prevention.
8/ When local officials talk seriously about how to made roads, power grids, water systems, communication systems more robust and more adaptable — pay attention.
Listen. Vote for people who take the need for future resilience seriously.
The same for cybersecurity.
Listen. Vote for people who take the need for future resilience seriously.
The same for cybersecurity.
9/ Here's today's Washington Post story on the *growing* chaos from burst pipes, flooded buildings, lack of water across Texas.
washingtonpost.com/national/texas…
washingtonpost.com/national/texas…
10/ Here's Nicole Perlroth talking about how vulnerable we are in this new world of national level cyber-hacking, with Terry Gross:
npr.org/transcripts/96…
npr.org/transcripts/96…
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