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Originally posted by kukla
The widespread blackout on the East Coast could possibly be the result of a cascading SCADA failure. In short, SCADA technology allows administrators of utilities to adjust any parameter off-sight by way of web-enabled switches. Nobody switches flips at the power plants any longer, its done remotely. If you watch the PBS Special, you see most of the systems are on Windows 2000/XP systems and vulnerable to outside intrusion. It is feared that if hackers were to launch an offensive on the grid, that the effect could cascade and disrupt distribution in a large area. And if the attacks continued, power could stay out for a very long time. There could be a very good explanation for all of this but I think our SCADA-enabled infrastructure has been sabotaged.
www.pbs.org...
[Edited on 14-8-2003 by kukla]