Who is in charge during a cyberattack? The answer may not be clear
Credit:
Fifth Domain
A cyberattack on a New England power grid during January’s sub-zero temperatures is a nightmare scenario for America’s top spy.
“A lot of people are going to suffer and die,” director of national intelligence Dan Coates said during a July event at the Hudson Institute.
But the ensuing chaos may cause even more destruction in the biting cold. A Sept. 4 report from the Intelligence and National Security Agency said questions remain about who is in charge during a cyberattack on critical infrastructure. Despite what government officials say are clear lines of authority during a hack, the report lays out how uncertainty was still rife during a simulated cyberattack.
