DNI Dan Coats said cyber warning lights are blinking red

[Hortensis]

for possible devastating cyber threat to U.S. infrastructure. Also warning that the same election interference activity is high now.

But it was infrastructure that made me grab some more bottles of water while I was at the market. In our experience, those cheapest plastic gallon bottles tend to leak after a while, so now I buy thicker bottles that'll hopefully be there until/if we need them.

[alfie]

1. That was my take as well

Rolling blackouts across our power grid? DOS of large computer systems vital to the Internet, or TV or phone systems where we would get information??

Don't know. But it does send chills down my spine.

[Hortensis]

2. I like to think an actual attack that materially

hurt people's wellbeing would backfire on Putin (but conservatives are so focused against us these days that maybe they'd just follow the Kremlin/Trump line and blame it on Democrats). Coats doesn't support that notion of deterrence, though, quite the contrary.

The biggest lack that bothers me is actually communications ability if grid affecting us went down, because our family, like most, is so spread out. Even assuming vehicles were running, it's likely authorities would close the roads. Walk 40 miles to the nearest relatives to make sure an adult's at home with the children? My husband and I bought an inexpensive broadband receiver on sale one year, mainly though because commercial stations would come under government control in emergency and historically have provided limited information. But currently no one has the ability to send, though one of our kids has a friend who's a ham, wherever he lives.

[RKP5637]

3. Smart move. I don't trust the future. Ham radio will get through unless the gov. or someone

triangulates and shuts down the xmitter. I still have tube equipment, but what will power it, so I did what you did. Small battery operated broadband receiver. OK, I might sound paranoid/CT, but I keep mine in a small metal box (old cookie container) ... basically a Faraday cage to protect against weird EMI. With tRump at the helm, it's hard to tell WTF might happen.