Modern infrastructures said to be 'vulnerable'

subscribe

Britain's electrical system, financial networks and transport infrastructure could be paralyzed by a solar flare or a nuclear attack, a UK official says.

UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox is expected to deliver that warning at a summit of scientists and security advisers who believe the infrastructure that underpins modern life in Western economies is potentially vulnerable to electromagnetic disruption, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Such disruptions can be caused by man-made nuclear blasts or natural events on the surface of the sun.

Fox will tell the conference he believes there is a growing threat, and he wants to address the "vulnerabilities" in Britain's high-tech infrastructure, the newspaper said.

"As the nature of our technology becomes more complex, so the threat becomes more widespread," he will say.

The electrical grid, computers, telephones, transportation, water supply and food production are all vulnerable to a major solar flare or an electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear detonation, another expert says.

"Our electrical infrastructures are so ubiquitous that an EMP or geomagnetic storm could shatter nations all over the Earth, and we cannot wait for disaster to spur us to action," Avi Schnurr, a former U.S. government adviser who works for the Israel Missile Defense Association, said.

The Electric Infrastructure Security Council and the Henry Jackson Society, a think tank, are jointly hosting the summit meeting.

Related News

Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault

Ontario Energy minister downplays dispute between auditor, electricity regulator

TORONTO - The bad blood between the Ontario government and auditor general bubbled to the surface once again Monday, with the Liberal energy minister downplaying a dispute between the auditor and the Crown corporation that manages the province's electricity market.

Glenn Thibeault said concerns raised by auditor general Bonnie Lysyk during testimony before a legislative committee last week aren't new and the practices being used by the Independent Electricity System Operator are commonly endorsed by major auditing firms.

"(Lysyk) doesn't like the rate-regulated accounting. We've always said we've relied on the other experts within the field as well, plus the provincial controller," Thibeault said.

#google#

"We believe that we are following…

READ MORE
ev connector

Electricity Grids Can Handle Electric Vehicles Easily - They Just Need Proper Management

READ MORE

washington-ag-leads-legal-challenge-against-trumps-energy-emergency

Washington AG Leads Legal Challenge Against Trump’s Energy Emergency

READ MORE

Ukraine Resumes Electricity Exports

READ MORE

saudi windpower

Saudis set to 'boost wind by over 6GW'

READ MORE