General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, is concerned about the threat posed to the U.S. power grid by the computer hacking group known as Anonymous.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Alexander has held meetings at the White House recently explaining his assessment of Anonymous.
The NSA has not publicly commented on the matter though.
Anonymous is a group of highly skilled computer hackers, known for having committed cyber attacks on some of the most high profile companies in the U.S. recently. They are known for wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, popularized by the 2005 film “V for Vendetta.”
Their cyber attacks primarily have been aimed at either embarrassing companies or simply trying to make a point of the damage that their hacking abilities can pose.
According to the Anonymous Twitter account and blog though, they are not planning any of the attacks reported by the Journal Tuesday.
“Anonymous attracted the attention of the National Security Agency,” wrote the hackers on their blog site Tuesday. “In private meetings at the White House, NSA director General Keith Alexander warned that in a year or two the group could attack the energy grid and shut off power for millions. Ridiculous! Why should Anonymous shut off power grid? Makes no sense! They just want to make you feel afraid.”
The Anonymous group have also been vocal about their opposition to the SOPA and PIPA bills that are currently up for consideration in both chambers of Congress.
No representatives from the White House or the NSA have publicly commented on Anonymous specifically. However, Mr. Alexander recently did comment on the growing abilities of hackers that are able to access, damage and even shut down high profile computer networks in the U.S.
