Lew Hodgett wrote:
"DGDevin" wrote:

Considering that the power companies have displayed indifference to
protecting their systems from computer hackers (especially those
paid by foreign powers) I for one won't be surprised to see the
federal govt. take a more active interest in that industry.

Catch 60 Minutes last night?

The utility problem is known and under scrutiny by Congress at this
time.

Have "hackers paid by foreign powers" caused a significant power outage in
the US?

Looking at it online, the "60 minutes" episode is a bunch of typical modern
chicken-littleism. Lots of "the sky is falling" but no specifics to speak
of. "Be afraid, be afraid, demand that the goverment pass new laws and
impose new taxes".

They say for example that "The Chinese are inside the power grid". How did
they determine this? They show a diesel generator being destroyed in a test
and then talk about "the big generators can be destroyed"--I wanna see 'em
make black smoke come out of a steam turbine. And they outright lied--they
said that generators are no longer made in the US--that would be news to
General Electric.

Maybe there's a risk, maybe not, but that show didn't prove it, it just
mongered fear.

I stopped wasting my time on that show long ago.

Now, if someone could make black smoke come out of a reporter, _that_ I'd
_pay_ to watch.