Imagine a world in which the modern conveniences we largely take for granted in our daily lives—electricity, water, gas, online banking and shopping, and healthcare services—all come to a sudden, grinding halt. The consequences would be life-altering and potentially catastrophic. And if China and Russia make good on hostile threats, this scenario could become a reality.
Groups within these global powers are aggressively seeking to disable vital infrastructure in the United States and in Europe, according to current and former U.S. and Russian officials—
and their weapons of choice are cybercrime and physical sabotage.
A breach in our highly interconnected infrastructure may have a cascading effect and could shut down multiple sectors of the U.S. economy.
China’s ongoing hostile efforts could “wreak havoc” in the U.S
In April 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that Chinese agents have already hacked into American critical infrastructure—including telecommunications, energy, water, and gas and oil pipeline companies—and are merely waiting “for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow.”
Speaking at the 2024 Vanderbilt summit on modern conflict and emerging threats, Wray said China is working to gain the “ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing.
Russia could cripple the internet with one surgical strike.
In June 2023, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev posted on the X social media platform that his government has no reason to “refrain from destroying our enemies’ undersea communications cables.
The fiber-optic cables he references are laid out across the Atlantic Ocean floor between the United States and Europe and facilitate around 99% of internet traffic according to The Strategist. Cutting those cables would leave millions in the dark.
Physical gold assets held privately are protected from disruptions to our internet-reliant digital financial system.
The Far-Reaching Impact of No Internet
Perhaps more than we realize, the internet has become the lifeblood of American society. When access is cut off—either by severing cables or through cyberattacks on infrastructure—the effects will trickle down to nearly every facet of our lives.
In his best-selling book Lights Out, Ted Koppel reveals that a major cyberattack on America’s power grid is not only possible but likely, that it would be devastating, and that the U.S. is shockingly unprepared.
In December 2015, suspected Russian hackers caused a power outage in Ukraine for more than 230,000 residents, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
