A friend sent me the story below:

Stuxnet malware is 'weapon' out to destroy ... Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant?
The Christian Science Monitor
[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/327178][/url] http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/327178

By Mark Clayton Mark Clayton Tue Sep 21, 3:08 pm ET

Cyber security experts say they have identified the world's first known cyber super weapon designed specifically to destroy a real-world target – a factory, a refinery, or just maybe a nuclear power plant.

The cyber worm, called Stuxnet, has been the object of intense study since its detection in June. As more has become known about it, alarm about its capabilities and purpose have grown. Some top cyber security experts now say Stuxnet's arrival heralds something blindingly new: a cyber weapon created to cross from the digital realm to the physical world – to destroy something.

At least one expert who has extensively studied the malicious software, or malware, suggests Stuxnet may have already attacked its target – and that it may have been Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, which much of the world condemns as a nuclear weapons threat.
(Follow link for the rest of the story)

Another example, in April 2009, pervasive espionage, penetrating the U.S. electrical grid by cyberspies from China, Russia and other countries was disclosed. The intrusions were not limited to a particular company, region or infrastructure system and the intruders left behind dormant software programs that could be activated to disrupt the systems. ("Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies", by Siobhan Gorman, April 8, 2009, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123914805204099085.html)

Michael Fitzpatrick, CEO of the information risk management firm NCX Group, was discussing cyber security and said “If man made it, man can break it.” (Curtis Sliwa radio show, August 30, 2009).


A good reason to begin one's preparations using low tech, without any outside utilities or assistance. Anything on top of that is "gravy".

If it requires batteries, recharging, refueling, etc. by means which you don't control or can't create from materials on hand, look for a lower tech option.