Ten years ago, USA Today ran an article titled “Bracing for a big power grid attack: 'One is too many.'”
The article's first line states, “About once every four days, part of the nation's power grid – a system whose failure could leave millions in the dark – is struck by a cyber or physical attack.”
It’s only gotten worse since then. Much, much worse.
America is now in an extremely dangerous position when it comes to critical infrastructure, such as the power grid and cyberattacks.
Remember the pipeline hack that caused gas shortages? Imagine a similar cyberattack, but a nationwide power outage instead of just fuel lines.
America’s power grid is already failing—national power outages have surged by more than 150% due to demand in the last ten years, and you can see why cybercriminals would want to go after American infrastructure.
Plain and simple: Our infrastructure is an easy target.
There is a very real, looming threat of a crippling cyberattack on the power grid or other critical infrastructure.
Even scarier? No one can prevent a rogue nation or hacker from plunging us into darkness.
A major cyberattack on the grid could leave entire communities in the dark for weeks.
Are you ready with backup power and supplies?
Read on to see how real the possibility of a cyberattack on critical infrastructure is and what you need to do to prepare.
It’s Not Just a Blackout
Most of us are prepared for the occasional weather-related power outage. However, this will look hugely different compared to a nationwide grid failure.
Take a minute and consider everything in your home that requires energy to run. Here are just a few examples of major appliances that require energy:
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Lights
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Refrigerators
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Microwaves
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Air conditioning units
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Space heaters
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Water pumps
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Sump pumps
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Coffee machines
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Medical equipment (e.g., CPAP machines)
Plus, there are all the small handheld devices we’ve become reliant on.
Now, scale that up to a nationwide power outage. Everything we depend on relies on the electric grid:
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Municipal water systems are dependent on the grid.
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Financial systems (ATMs, credit card machines, etc.) are dependent on the grid.
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Grocery stores are dependent on the grid.
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Transportation is dependent on the grid. Not only would traffic lights stop working, but gas stations would also stop fueling, which would halt truck transportation.
Cybercriminals can cripple a nation.
Banks may shut down, the grid may go down, water systems may not be safe, and so on. And it won't be a quick or easy fix to get us back online.
According to the Federation of American Scientists:
When the lights go out, restoring power across America is a complex, intricate process requiring seamless collaboration among various agencies, levels of government, and power providers amid constraints extending beyond just the loss of electricity. In a blackout, access to critical services like telecommunications, transportation, and medical assistance is also compromised, which only intensifies and compounds the urgency for coordinated response efforts.
The US Is Actively Being Attacked
Do not dismiss this as fake news or exaggerated fearmongering.
The threat of a cyberattack on critical infrastructure is real.
Foreign adversaries—like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—are actively probing our grid, and attacks on our electrical systems happen almost every day.
In November 2024, The House Committee on Homeland Security released a new “Cyber Threat Snapshot.”
This Cyber Threat Snapshot states, “Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure increased 30 percent globally last year.”
Recently, the Washington Post released a report that revealed that China’s cyberarmy has already been invading critical United States infrastructure.
The article states:
The Chinese military is ramping up its ability to disrupt key American infrastructure, including power and water utilities as well as communications and transportation systems, according to U.S. officials and industry security officials. Hackers affiliated with China’s People’s Liberation Army have burrowed into the computer systems of about two dozen critical entities over the past year.
These include a water utility in Hawaii, a West Coast port, at least one gas and oil pipeline, and an attempt on Texas’s power grid.
And this is ongoing.
According to the Department of Homeland Security:
Although first discovered in May 2023, Americans learned in 2024 that PRC state-sponsored hackers, code-named Volt Typhoon, compromised U.S. critical infrastructure for surveillance and pre-positioning purposes for at least five years before being detected. The intrusions […] included numerous sectors, including transportation, telecommunications, and energy.
The Public Is Not Paying Attention
America’s enemies are emboldened, and the homeland is vulnerable.
However, what many Americans fail to realize is that cybercriminals aren’t just targeting our government.
According to USA Today, “Foreign hackers increasingly go after private, rather than government, targets. An estimated 89% of critical infrastructure in the U.S. is controlled by private companies.”
This means individual communities and smaller organizations, such as local water systems, are at significant risk of cyberattacks.
As Courtney Adante, president of the security risk advisory at Teneo, says: “The reality is that a potential attack against water systems, dams, bridges, energy, is a real threat, it's a real risk. My concern is that the public just isn't paying enough attention.”
Cyberattacks are happening—and they are being aimed at critical infrastructure that could cripple the nation and hurt Americans.
For example, according to USA Today, “An EPA review this year found that 70% of U.S. water companies were vulnerable to attack.”
“Cyberattacks represent one of the most significant threats to our Nation’s water and wastewater utilities and to the communities, businesses, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure sectors,” explains EPA spokesperson Dominique Joseph.
Again, it doesn’t even have to be a full-scale attack.
In an article entitled “U.S. Risks National Blackout from Small-Scale Attack,” the writer explains: “A small number of the country's substations play an outsize role in keeping power flowing across large regions. The FERC analysis indicates that knocking out nine of those key substations could plunge the country into darkness for weeks, if not months.”
A simple small-scale attack on the power grid could cripple our nation. But on a positive note, President Trump is trying to improve America’s fragile power grid.
An Executive Order announced on April 8, 2025, aims at strengthening our fragile grid.
According to The White House:
The United States is experiencing an unprecedented surge in electricity demand driven by rapid technological advancements, including the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers and an increase in domestic manufacturing. This increase in demand, coupled with existing capacity challenges, places a significant strain on our Nation’s electric grid. Lack of reliability in the electric grid puts the national and economic security of the American people at risk. […] It is the policy of the United States to ensure the reliability, resilience, and security of the electric power grid. It is further the policy of the United States that in order to ensure adequate and reliable electric generation in America, to meet growing electricity demand, and to address the national emergency declared pursuant to Executive Order 14156 of January 20, 2025 (Declaring a National Energy Emergency), our electric grid must utilize all available power generation resources, particularly those secure, redundant fuel supplies that are capable of extended operations.
While it is good to know the government is stepping in to strengthen our weak power grid, the government cannot prevent a cybercriminal from getting into the system and turning off the lights.
Don’t Be Powerless, Be Prepared
What if, tomorrow, a cyberattack knocked out the grid for weeks?
A cyberattack can strike without warning. They can cut the power, but they can’t cut yours—not if you have your own solar generator and supplies.
Be power independent. The power is going to go out. You need more than flashlights and candles. You need a solar generator with enough power to keep your appliances running, your food cold, your devices charged, and your lights on.
Stock your pantry. When the grid goes down, grocery shelves will empty out quickly—and they won’t be restocked until power is restored. Enough emergency food ensures your family can eat nutritious meals even without power.
Secure your water. Water treatment plants are one of the critical infrastructures cybercriminals aim to attack. Rather than risk drinking poisonous water, invest in the Alexapure Pro Water Filtration System.
Have a backup communication plan. Invest in another form of communication other than cell phones. Cell phone towers can suffer from cyberattacks and internet outages. Would you be able to contact family members without cell phone access or get information from the outside world? Look into ham radios and weather radios.
Practice first aid preparedness. Hospitals cannot function without power. 911 services may be down. Everyone should have a complete first aid kit and know how to perform first aid in case of emergency.
Be blackout ready, friends.
In liberty,
Elizabeth Anderson
