Cyber-Physical Attacks: Preparing for Grid Threats Beyond Weather
Humans have always had to contend with adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, and conflicts with other groups. However, nations today are more capable than ever of inflicting harm at a distance through cyber-physical attacks.
Put simply, these are cyber attacks aimed at physical systems. For example, an attack could be a computer virus that targets power plants or water treatment facilities. Damaging critical infrastructure like this can have a disastrous effect on a community, and it opens up a new frontier in online warfare.
Panicking isn't going to help. However, what can help is being aware and being prepared. In this article, we will examine the dangers of cyber-physical attacks and how to prepare for when the grid goes down.
What Are Cyber-Physical Attacks?
Cyber-physical attacks aim to compromise digital systems, causing real-world physical effects. The target is not data, as with a typical cyber attack, but rather industrial machinery, infrastructure, and safety equipment.
Due to the connected nature of the Internet, a cyber attack can come from anywhere in the world. Often, these attacks are sponsored by state-level actors. For example, look at the Stuxnet malware that compromised Iran's clandestine nuclear program in 2010.
These highly sophisticated attacks are often carried out by governments, but hackers can also work for rogue states, terrorist organizations, or organized crime groups.
Because of the dispersed nature of hacking, these events can be harder to predict than the weather. An attack can come from anywhere at any time, meaning vital infrastructure needs to be constantly monitored and protected against these kinds of attacks.
Why Grid Attacks Work
Anything that causes the electricity grid, water treatment, or traffic control systems is undesirable. But while natural disasters often disrupt these essential systems, a malicious cyber attack can be even worse.
One reason is their unpredictability. Extreme weather events often follow predictable patterns, happening in certain areas at known times of the year. Cyber attacks, on the other hand, can happen anywhere, without warning.
Cascading failure is another big issue with cyber-physical attacks. Power grids are often deeply interconnected across regions. Disrupting one substation can cause a ripple effect that compromises transportation, water treatment, fuel distribution, and communications well beyond the initial target.
Furthermore, these attacks can erode trust in digital systems. Operators may be forced to shut down automated tools or disconnect networks to prevent further damage. This can slow coordination and limit data sharing, exacerbating the problem. It can also lead to delayed alerts, incomplete information, or conflicting guidelines, which may cause the public to panic or lose trust in the authorities.
A cyber-physical attack can do more than just cut the power; it can also undermine the rapid communication response that systems depend on. These interconnected factors make cyber-physical attacks potentially a greater threat than natural disasters.
How Households Can Prepare
To protect your family and your property, it's a good idea to prepare for grid disruptions. Preparing for a cyber-physical attack can look a little different from preparing for bad weather and natural disasters.
For instance, a cyber-physical attack may last longer and provide less warning than a more natural event. It could also disrupt the digital systems people rely on to communicate with one another. That's why you want to build layered resilience so that your household can function even when power and connectivity are unreliable for long periods.
When outages last for days, you'll need more than flashlights and candles to get through. Think about how you will manage food, communication, medical needs, and daily routines. This is where EcoFlow Whole-Home Backup Power Solutions come into their own. With the right system, you can run your house on stored power for days at a time.
Where possible, it's also a good idea to reduce digital dependence. Analog backups help you to function better even when the grid goes down. Think about things like paper maps, battery-powered radios, printed out contact lists, and physical cash. All of these can get you out of a jam when digital systems go down.
Here are some other ways to stay prepared:
Maintain backup power for essential needs like refrigeration, lighting, and medical devices. An EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X is the perfect way to power all your devices, even during a multi-day outage.
Store critical information offline. Medical details, insurance documents, and emergency phone numbers can all be printed out and kept somewhere safe.
Establish a household communication plan, so everyone knows where to go and how to reconnect if networks go down.
Talk to neighbours. You can build even more resilience by having strong neighborhood networks where people can support each other.
Always keep at least a three-day supply of food and drinking water. That means approximately one gallon of water per person per day as a minimum. Dehydration can set in after only a couple of days, so store as much water as your space allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Cyber-Physical Attack?
Cyber-physical attacks combine hacking with real-world consequences. Hackers target computer systems that control physical infrastructure. Power stations, water treatment plants, traffic control systems, and other critical infrastructure are all vulnerable to these attacks.
Are Cyber-Physical Grid Attacks Common?
Confirmed large-scale attacks are rare. However, federal agencies are aware that critical infrastructure is a target and continuously monitor cybersecurity to reduce the risk of an attack getting through.
How Long Will a Power Outage From a Cyber Attack Last?
Usually, outages caused by cyber attacks last longer than blackouts caused by bad weather. That's because systems need to be inspected, secured, and even rebuilt before they can be brought back online. Recovery times will depend on the magnitude of the intrusion and the degree of interconnection among the affected systems. However, it's possible for electricity grids to go down for days or even longer.
How Can Households Prepare for Cyber-Physical Attacks?
Build resilience for off-grid living. Look into backup power systems for your home. Stockpile food and water. Create analog backups by keeping things like paper maps, emergency contact phone numbers, insurance documents, and physical cash somewhere safe.
Staying Safe in Uncertain Times
Thankfully, cyber-physical attacks are still rare. But in these turbulent times, the risk is greater than ever. Protect yourself and your family by building resilience against long-term power outages. Installing backup power in your home is just one way you can protect yourself against the growing threat of cyber-physical attacks.