"The number-one threat experienced to date by the US electrical grid is ???"

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"I don't think paralysis [of the electrical grid] is more likely by cyberattack than by natural disaster. And frankly the number-one threat experienced to date by the US electrical grid is ???." - John C. Inglis, Former Deputy Director, National Security Agency 2015.07.09
Without looking, take your best guess then click here.





Please don't mention the answer in your reply... but do reply.


Joe Mobley
  • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
    Heh. My guess was completely wrong, but (given my background) I should've known the answer!

    Here's a hint: The Internet itself has an almost identical vulnerability, of which almost nobody speaks!
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      That's just nuts.
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      • Profile picture of the author perryny
        Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

        That's just nuts.
        Ahhh... I haven't looked at the answer yet, but I definitely think my first guess is on the right track.
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          I don't doubt it. When I ran the maintenance at an apartment complex every time there was a power failure except once, that was the cause.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    OK, I was RIGHT! My answer would have been a TINY bit general BUT, if asked to name an ANIMAL, this would likely have been my FIRST guess! I got a big laugh one day when I saw some running across the street in the san fernando valley. After that point, however, they seemed to disappear! WHERE did they go? The power lines!

    BTW Most likely cause? NATURE!

    SECOND Most likely cause? Stupid and careless humans! I once worked at a job and we suddenly lost power for some time. The cause? A CAR ACCIDENT! Someone hit a powerline pole.

    The THIRD one might be POOR DESIGN. A minor problem at one plant could knock out a fair chunk of the country. AGAIN, there HAVE been a few times this has happened.

    The fourth one might be PUC stupidity. I'm sure this happens ALL THE TIME. There have been some small cases of it.

    Yeah, EMPs, even with all the publicity, are probably a DISTANT TENTH, even with my general categories. Of course SOME EMPs happen by NATURE, and THEY have been known to shut down power, and even fry electronics. THAT is why you have things like heavy duty surge arrestors, etc...

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Not vacuums?
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  • Profile picture of the author PaulSch
    Is it 12 ft tall termites wearing wetsuits running around and crashing into pylons?
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    It as not really a threat since it was us charging up our space based lasers.
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  • Profile picture of the author virtualtechie18
    I knew it .
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