Security News > 2021 > June > Energy Chief Cites Risk of Cyberattacks Crippling Power Grid
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Sunday called for more public-private cooperation on cyber defenses and said U.S. adversaries already are capable of using cyber intrusions to shut down the U.S. power grid.
She added: "Even as we speak, there are thousands of attacks on all aspects of the energy sector and the private sector generally."
Colonial temporarily shut down its gasoline distribution networks in the South before paying $4.4 million to the hackers.
"The bottom line is, people, whether you're private sector, public sector, whatever, you shouldn't be paying ransomware attacks, because it only encourages the bad guys," she said.
Asked whether American adversaries have the capability now of shutting down the U.S. power grid, she said: "Yes, they do."
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States and other countries should talk to countries such as Russia, which is believed to be the origin on some ransomware attacks, about law enforcement and intelligence cooperation "To shut it down."