1. I have a urban computer legend to ask everyone...

I've long heard rumors, that a program called "Spike", supposedly the "real spike", exists as a tool that has a permanent link to the National Power Grid, and can up the volts/watts at a specified location. The tool was allegedly built by General Dynamics in the late 80's, and some tight lipped hackers eventually got ahold of it. Has anyone else heard this story and know anything about it?

2. Was it just me, or did that article seem to leave out some action items? For example, if the great gods of government monitoring detect an attack on the Nation's Power Grid, what are they going to do about it? wake up some people at other equally insecure power plants .. make a little report... 4 months later... To tell you the truth, I just don't really know what the NIPC really does or can do..

I don't mean to be over-critical, its just that in my experience.. monitoring and response, is the last phase of security contract, in which rigorous testing, subsequent hardening, and well configured security solutions are already in place. Is that the where the National Power Grid is?

Thanks for listening,

Tony :)

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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/articles/41/2038#2038