Massive cyber attack against US due on Tuesday

The US is to come under massive cyber attack on Tuesday as part of a war-game to test the ability of the national infrastructure to cope.

The exercise, dubbed Cyber Shockwave, will involve a massive simulated attack against the US national infrastructure systems of both government and business. The attack is being run by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s National Security Preparedness Group.

Ex-senior staffers, including ex-DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and Former CIA deputy director John McLaughlin, will take the role of government leaders in a mock-up of the White House Situation Room being built in Washington.

The test will examine the command and control capabilities of the US while under attack and how quickly countermeasures can be deployed and backup systems activated. They will also formulate on-the-spot advice for the current president.

Unusually for such a drill, the entire event will be open to public scrutiny, with highlights being shown on the Government News Network and press access for some in the Situation Room itself.

The war-game is being partly financed by businesses like PayPal, SMobile Systems and General Dynamics.