Cyber Attacks Will Intensify [Opinion]

The United States Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning, “Expect cyber attacks by Iran.” It has also released a Summary of Terrorism Threat to the U.S. Homeland. You may read it here.

The threat of cyber attacks requires 24-7-365 vigilance. Critical infrastructure may be at greatest risk for attack.

Chatter picked up by intel sources has identified “West Coast electrical grids” as a potential target of Iranian based or sponsored cyber warriors.

Our electrical grids (powered in large part by Southern California Edison, PG&E and San Diego Gas & Electric) are not the only targets of opportunity by these cyber warriors. Air traffic control systems, banking systems, and the list goes on and on.

What can our federal government do to protect us from cyber warriors attacking critical infrastructure? We have our own cyber defenders and warriors. These dedicated men and women are on duty around the clock to protect us.

Iran is a bad actor but they are not alone in the cyber warfare business. China, Russia, North Korea, and other “haters” have aggressively targeted our country for years. While it is impossible to share here the exact number of cyber warriors who target the United States, it is estimated that tens of thousands of state-backed cyber warriors are on the job each and every minute of the day attempting to disrupt and target our nation’s defense, its defense contractors, critical infrastructure, and more.

While President Trump, in the judgment of most military leaders, took out an Iranian official who has been directly responsible for the death of 601 of our military personnel we can expect more retaliation from Iran and its state-sponsored terror networks.

While the Iranian missile attack did not harm military personnel of our nation, most experts in the national security and intelligence fields agree this won’t be all that Iranian government or its state-backed terrorists to attempt.

No question reaction to classified briefings to Congress and the Senate received mixed reviews, mostly along party lines, about taking out the Irianian Major General. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, “completely supported the president’ action” while Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, “categorically opposed Tuesday’s missle strike on the general.”

From what I have seen and heard, the take out was necessary. Our intel personnel did their job. They had surveillance of the Major General. They relayed that information to our national command authorities and the president acted on that intel. Our military personnel executed the strike and a killer of 601 of our military personnel was gone. Someone once said,  “War is hell.” Nothing has changed since those prophetic words were spoken.

We remain a nation engaged in a global war on terror. Be greatful that our young men and women are serving around the globe to defend us and our allies. No other nation has sacrificed so many of our best and brightest for our freedom.