How Vulnerable Is Our Power Grid?

coreboarder writes "Recently it was divulged that the Brazilian power infrastructure was compromised by hackers. Then it was announced that it was apparently faulty equipment. A downplay to the global public or an honest clarification? Either way, it raises the question: how vulnerable are we, really? With winter and all its icy glory hurtling towards those of us in the northern hemisphere, how open are we to everything from terrorist threats to simple 'pay me or else' schemes?"

Re:Major Brazil Power Failure Yesterday

[Anonymous Coward]

Itaipu blames the Brazilian grid, meanwhile Brazilian officials aren't sure what it was

All the grid workers were too busy making cat calls at a girl in a miniskirt.

Re:Old Axiom

[houstonbofh]

But I also think there's some scare tactic behind these "how vulnerable we really are" news. I think I've read about these power grid hackers several times on slashdot alone.

Some are fearmongering... Some are brainstorming... :)

Re:Pay me or else?

[mayko]

It also worked well in "The Fast and Furious" with the truck drivers.

But lets just hope the pirates aren't as tough as Vin Diesel... I mean, his last name is a fucking fuel, it doesn't get more hardcore than that.

Re:One word: Enron

[MartinSchou]

Should the day come though I won't be cowering under a desk waiting to be murdered by some mental case or Mumbai copy-cat.

But you might be shot by someone else carrying a concealed weapon who thinks you look a bit too suspicious and figures it's better to shoot first and ask questions later. After all, you had a gun ;)