While many of us were focused on the concern that the latest variant of the Conficker worm was going to release itself on April Fools Day, ongoing investigations are yielding ever more evidence that there are far more serious security risks out there. While worms and viruses are a definite nuisance, they may be distractions or test beds for far more serious concern.
I have read a few articles today, both in print and online, where former intelligence, defense and Homeland Security officials appear to be confirming that there have been very sophisticated hacks against some of the critical infrastructure in the United States. The electrical grid was a specific target mentioned repeatedly. Apparently there has been evidence obtained that some foreign governments have introduced software that has mapped critical infrastructures with the intent of being able to disable or at least disrupt them during a national crisis or confrontation with that other country. Nuclear power plants and the financial system were also mentioned. If you saw the movie Live Free or Die Hard or are a fan of the hit show 24, you know these scenarios all too well. It's certainly concerning that fiction could become reality.
The federal government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to combat these threats, if not more. You can be sure that our government has similar capabilities against anyone who may be an adversary to us. In the business world, this all serves as very real reminders that we need to take our IT security very seriously. With all networks being interconnected via the Internet and these types of activities occurring, it's very important that we do everything possible to insure that our networks are secure. It's yet another reminder that you cannot be secure enough in today's very connected world.
