Don't miss this important "60 Minutes" tonight at 7:00pm
Sabotaging The System
Could hackers get into the computer systems that run crucial elements of the world's infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works or even a nation's military arsenal? Steve Kroft reports. Answer, it's already happened in Brazil.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5578986n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel
There is 4-5 places on the power grid that can disrupt 100's of millions of households in America.
The grid needs to be updated NOW! It might cost us trillions but in the end it not done soon it will cost us 100's of trillions and also America as we know it today....
Put Americans to work and shore up our grid now!
They said if our power grid is attacked, it will be done in the summer or winter when it can kill more of the population. Can you imagine if this is done when one of those huge northern freezes that paralyses the central & eastern U.S. is in effect. In Brazil 3 Million people were plunged into darkness for days because they couldn't get their grid back up. Now picture this happening in the U.S. for days. I'm thinking hundreds, even thousands of people would freeze to death.
One expert said he would be surprised if hostel counties HAVEN'T ALREADY the necessary capability embedded in our computer systems to take down the power grid anytime they want!
Yes they can.
Yes it's a problem.
No we don't need to lock down all the devices, make the net corporate, and pass another patriot act kind of thing to fix it.
Yes, we need to better educate those people running those networks, and consider building out isolated networks that are not electrically connected to the greater Internet. We can use people barriers to prevent this crap. It's a bit higher cost, and higher latency, but that's a very small price to pay for much improved security.
We can also educate people as to alternatives. Anyone living where they can freeze to death over something like this, can and absolutely should obtain and learn how to use other heat methods, and stock up on basics necessary to go a week or so.
Simple candles can mean life or death, if nothing else. Candle power isn't sexy, nor will it be comfortable, but that in a well managed space can keep people alive for a considerable time.
Kerosene is another great alternative.
White gas, wood and seriously good coverings, blankets and such are all things people can use to get through.
If it were me, I would apply tax dollars to some education so people don't die from lack of O2, make the basic detectors available to anyone, and improve the state of alternative heating devices so they can be used in a maximum number of situations.
In particular, small scale Kerosene, is not difficult to use, burns very clean, and has a very high BTU / gallon output. Run on a duty cycle, even a small unit can keep a room livable for a number of days.
White gas is kind of dangerous, as is propane. Both are not difficult, if used properly. Both are potent enough to be a consideration, in tough times.
I have personally had to go through each and every one of these as a kid in poor times, no power, kind of lousy house. It was a non issue, given a bit of understanding on what is safe and what is not.
In my adult life, I did two winters using Kerosene, and highly recommend it over most other alternatives. It's just excellent, and one of the lowest risk alternative means out there. It was actually considerably cheaper than Northwest Natural. I was stunned to discover this.
There is a burden here to protect the core resources. There is also a burden on us as people to make sure we know how to get through tough times. Call it personal responsibility, coupled with a bit of fun. That's what I did as a kid, and lived just fine.
I don't like single source systems where large numbers of people don't have options available to them, or become accustomed to the single source to a degree where they fail to endure ugly scenarios.
"Could hackers get into the computer systems that run crucial elements of the world's infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works or even a nation's military arsenal? Steve Kroft reports. Answer, it's already happened in Brazil."
This bugs me to no end when the media shit all over hackers. Read the article, then refer back here for the following refresher course:
Hackers (a.k.a. "the real pros"): Maybe, if we wanted to and had a logical reason to. But surely we've better and more constructive things to do with our time than taking out a nation's power system.
Neutrals (a.k.a. "the ones who make it all work"): Why not? At least we'll hopefully (if they're paying attention) bring to light major security flaws that have, in all actuality, been there for years and no-body's paid attention to them. (We can tell right now your power system is running a certain O$ bought and sold by some company calling itself M$, aren't you? ;o)
Crackers (a.k.a. "obnoxious teenagers with modems"): Hell yeah! Shall we take out your water and cable systems while we're at it? *evil grin*
You have hackers to thank for bringing to the world Linux and all the systems that make up the greater Internet. You have Grays to thank for giving us 2600 and DeCSS (amongst other highly useful things.) And finally, you have crackers to thank (blame?) for locking out the phone systems and for showing the world what a truly shitty O$ Window$ has come to be. (Something HACKERS knew all along but the CRACKERS of the world keep bringing to light, as if we haven't heard it 10,000,000,000 times prior.
Remember, much as it may pain most to accept, we need all three for anything to really get done or to even work!
NEVER, EVER FORGET THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE NO MATTER HOW BLUE THE MEDIA'S FACES GET TELLING YOU WE'RE (hackers and crackers) ONE AND THE SAME, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT!!!
login-->Joshua
Greatings Professor Falcon
Shall we play a game?
Love to. How about Global Thermonuclear War?
Hell yeah!
By the way, that was (is) one of my favourites and usually occupies laserdisc cabinet space between "Hackers" (go figure) and "Tron". I mean the real version, from the 80s, not the remake (read: videotaped piece of horseshit) that MGM put out last year......
And it was filmed at various Pacific Northwest locations. The one scene at the airport actually shows a Horizon Metro landing in the background. You remember those, the planes with one seat on each side and you had to hunch over to walk down the isle. Oh wait, those might be before your time.
I didn't like the remake either. The W.O.P.R. sure got cooked in that one.
I do remember, actually, I flew on one of those types as recently as 2000. I think it may have been an F-27/50 (it was a Fokker jet regardless) if memory serves me correctly........
I even have to hunch over when traversing the aisle in a MD-11!!
Nope. You are right though that there was an F-27 jet but the Metro was a puddle jumper prop job 18 seater.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Horizon_metro.jpg
Actually now that I see your photograph, it very well could have been the same airplane I was on for all I know. ;o)
I think Horizon had quite a few of those running "back in the day" if they don't still. Haven't seen one in the air for quite a few years, accounting for why I have forgotten......I wouldn't be surprised if they have all been put out of commercial service by now, given how easily accessible the cockpit is from the cabin! (Doubtful the Bush administration would have gone for that......)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Swearingen_Metroliner
Now picture this happening in the U.S. for days. I'm thinking hundreds, even thousands of people would freeze to death.
Not just the lives! The Republicans think that Obama's spending is out of control OMG! Think how much this would cost? The printing presses would be working 36 hours a day 500 days a year for the next 30 years!
Good advocacy Moto!
That pisses me off to no end. Mostly because I enjoy hacking 
Yes, it was a movie, but did anyone else ever see/remember Die Hard 4? That was the plot, shut down the power system and take the money.
"Hackers" - now there's a movie I never thought I'd hear anyone talk about, ever. Probably the most dating line in the whole movie is "check it out, it has a 28.8 bps modem!"
kskd sez:
Simple candles can mean life or death, . . .
Kerosene is another great alternative. . . .
White gas, wood . . .
I hate to mention this but a lot of deaths may result of misuse of these items (and other things) by people not familiar with them. Certain people might better survive the cold if they just stick with blankets.
Of course, quite a few people will die as a result of the Darwin effect when the power goes out. Firing up the bbq in the living room. Running a generator in a closed garage. Burning down their house after putting fireplace coals on their wood deck. Happens all the time. These fatalities shouldn't be included in a power outage death tally. They should be listed under suicide, or murder, or murder-suicide.
What about Summer in the Southeast & Southwest during a Heat Wave. Phoenix 112 just to name one. No power to pump water. No air conditioners. No regular way to pump gas or make any credit card transactions. Rotting meat and food in stores. Yes some generators but with limited ways to get them refueled how long would they last? You might loose more lives in the Summer just from thirst.
Actually the F-27 was a twin engine high wing turbo-porp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PIA-F27-Lahore-30861.JPG
Ozark Airlines used to fly a mess of these. Mostly out of St. Louis.
You are right. Only it was the Fairchild F-27 that Horizon operated.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Horizon_f27.jpg/800px-Horizon_f27.jpg
Missed it by one number. The Fokker F28 was the first jet owned by Horizon.
http://members.chello.nl/s.c.verbrugge/F28Horizon.jpg
Darktemper, absolutely true.
Education about this is part of national defense, IMHO. I know our founders would have loved the idea of that.
Smart, empowered people are a PITA, if you are nation building, or trying to get terror done.
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