How hackers are turning the power grid and digital infrastructure into a weapon

"The darkness that swept over the Venezuelan capital in the predawn hours of Jan. 3, 2026, signaled a profound shift in the nature of modern conflict: the convergence of physical and cyber warfare. While U.S. special operations forces carried out the dramatic seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a far quieter but equally devastating offensive was taking place in the unseen digital networks that help operate Caracas."

"To understand how a nation can turn an adversary's lights out without firing a shot, you have to look inside the controllers that regulate modern infrastructure. They are the digital brains responsible for opening valves, spinning turbines, and routing power. For decades, controller devices were considered simple and isolated. Grid modernization, however, has transformed them into sophisticated internet-connected computers. As a cybersecurity researcher, I track how advanced cyber forces exploit this modernization by using digital techniques to control the machinery's physical behavior."

"My colleagues and I have demonstrated how malware can compromise a controller to create a split reality. The malware intercepts legitimate commands sent by grid operators and replaces them with malicious instructions designed to destabilize the system. For example, malware could send commands to rapidly open and close circuit breakers, a technique known as flapping. This action can physically damage massive transformers or generators by causing them to overheat or go out of sync with the grid."

U.S. special operations forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro while coordinated cyber operations manipulated Caracas's electricity grid, causing a predawn blackout. Industrial control systems that regulate turbines, valves, and circuit breakers were targeted through internet-connected controllers converted by grid modernization. Malware intercepted legitimate operator commands and replaced them with malicious instructions to destabilize operations. Techniques such as rapid opening and closing of circuit breakers, known as flapping, can physically damage transformers and generators by overheating or causing loss of synchronization. The synchronization of kinetic and cyber tactics demonstrates the potency of code-driven attacks against critical infrastructure.

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