Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community
From the report:
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China has the ability to launch cyber attacks that cause localized, temporary disruptive effects on critical infrastructure — such as disruption of a natural gas pipeline for days to weeks — in the United States.
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I won’t shame the alleged author of this report by naming them.
This is a making a case for a bigger budget document and not a report to be taken seriously.
For example, I would re-write this item to read:
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Any country with a budget large enough to rent earth moving equipment has the ability to cause disruptive effects on critical infrastructure — such as disruption of a natural gas pipeline for months — in the United States.
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Think about the last time you heard of a contractor disrupting a gas or water main. Now improve upon that memory with the pipe being one that transports oil, natural gas or other petroleum products across state lines.
If you were planning on disrupting critical infrastructure in the US, would you fund years of iffy research and development for a cyber attack, or spend several thousand dollars on travel and equipment rental?
Cyber defense utility infrastructure is a modern Maginot Line. It’s true someone, a very stupid someone, could attack that way, but why would they in light of easier and surer methods of disruption?
No one associated with the report asked that question because it’s a collaborative budget increase document.
PS: The techniques overlooked in the Worldwide Threat Assessment are applicable to other countries as well. (Inquire for details.)