We've known and talked pretty openly in mainstream media about how trivial an attack like this would be. Seriously can't get away from the gut feeling that this may be the tip of an iceberg here.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/intentional-vandalism-leaves-38000-customers-without-power-moore-county-sheriffs-office-says/SNCENVLP5NH5VCBOEI4G2G5CZY/

State of Emergency declared, FBI investigating power grid attack in Moore County, sheriff says

A state of emergency has been declared after the electrical power grid was “intentionally attacked” causing a major power outage in Moore County.

WSOC TV
@alyssam_infosec was just staring out the window thinking the same thing.
@zebpalmer I remember having conversations with folks at National Grid back in 2012. The things they told me back then were scary AF, this story now has me wondering how much if any of that they and others like them have been able to address in the last 10 years.

@alyssam_infosec I was a fed employee in late 90s/early 2000s working in telecom infra & incident communications/management. Those conversations were already going on back then.

I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling about progress 😒

@alyssam_infosec @zebpalmer

same vulnerabilities also exist here
in Britain and rest of Northern Europe and there are already disgruntled elements of the population (particularly in suburban semi rural areas) who might choose to attack such infrastructure - maybe even more so, as guns and ammo are controlled here making it harder to shoot at large groups of people whereas substations are mostly only protected against metal theft rather than sabotage..

@alyssam_infosec @zebpalmer

Friends with linemen and other assorted infrastructure support types.

They've addressed fucking nothing.

Sniper Attack On Calif. Power Station Raises Terrorism Fears

Last April in San Jose, transformers were knocked out at a power station when one or more snipers fired at least 100 rounds into them. Investigators say they don't believe it was an act of terrorism, but other experts disagree.

NPR