An electrical grid cyber-attack could cause a loss of 1 000 billion USD

According to a study conducted by the British insurance market Lloyd's and the University of Cambridge, a cyber-attack of the US electrical grid system followed by a blackout might cause damage evaluated between 243 and 1 000 billion USD. Potential losses for insurers are estimated at 21 to 71 billion USD.

According to the report, the scenario is qualified as unlikely, but technically possible. Since 2000, fifteen presumed cyber-attacks have targeted the American power grid.

As a reminder, in 2003, a widespread power failure had hit six cities in the northeastern United States and five other neighboring cities. Damages had amounted to nearly 6 billion USD.