China and “probably one or two other” countries have the capacity to shut down the nation’s power grid and other critical infrastructure through a cyber attack, the head of the National Security Agency told a Congressional panel Thursday. Admiral Michael Rogers, who also serves the dual role as head of U.S. Cyber Command, said the United States has detected malware from China and elsewhere on U.S. computers systems that affect the daily lives of every American. “It enables you to shut down very segmented, very tailored parts of our infrastructure that forestall the ability to provide that service to us as citizens,” Rogers said in testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.

Source: CNN

Date: November 20th, 2014

Link (to paste into browser): http://us.cnn.com/2014/11/20/politics/nsa-china-power-grid/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Discussion

1) What is the likelihood that the US NSA agency, with groups including Global Network Exploitation and Vulnerability Assessment, have not also infiltrated China’s and other’s vital infrastructure systems?

2) If you were advising a company about what to do about this threat, what are some of the things you would consider?