Benjamin Dancer's Blog, page 2

Russian Malware in Power Grid

So many people have contacted me about a recent Washington Post story involving a Russian cyberattack on America's power grid that I thought I'd provide some context for the issue. I should disclose that people have been eager to reach out to me about this because my thriller Patriarch Run realistically depicts the vulnerability of our grid to cyberattack. You can learn more about our vulnerable grid at my Discussion Guide.

The Washington Postreported that malware associated with the Russian h...

Russian Maleware in Power Grid

So many people have contacted me about a recent Washington Post story involving a Russian cyberattack on America's power grid that I thought I'd provide some context for the issue. I should disclose that people have been eager to reach out to me about this because my thriller Patriarch Run realistically depicts the vulnerability of our grid to cyberattack. You can learn more about our vulnerable grid at my Discussion Guide.

The Washington Postreported that malware associated with the Russian h...

U.S. Senate Acts to Secure the Grid

A bill passed through the U.S. Senate last week that will help secure the power grid, which relates to this blog because my thriller Patriarch Runrealistically depicts the vulnerability of our critical infrastructure. That part of the book isn't fiction. You can learn more about our vulnerability in my Discussion Guide.

The Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (CIPA) was originally drafted by a member of the EMP Task Force on National and Homeland Security.

In the interest of full disclosure,...

Trump Pledges to Secure the Grid

President-Elect Donald Trump pledged to make the vulnerable power grid a national security priority. I learned about the vulnerability of our vital infrastructure in the research I did for my realistic thriller Patriarch Run. The bad guy in my story intends to kill you, me and everyone we love by taking down the grid with a sophisticated cyberattack. Although my story is fiction, this threat is not. The threat is real and extremely serious. You can learn more about this threat at my Discussio...

Trump Pledges to Secure the Gird

President-Elect Donald Trump pledged to make the vulnerable power grid a national security priority. I learned about the vulnerability of our vital infrastructure in the research I did for my realistic thriller Patriarch Run. The bad guy in my story intends to kill you, me and everyone we love by taking down the grid with a sophisticated cyberattack. Although my story is fiction, this threat is not. The threat is real and extremely serious. You can learn more about this threat at my Discussio...

Ted Koppel Talks About the Power Grid

Below is an interview with the journalist Ted Koppel, who released his book Lights Outin October, 2015.Lights Out is the non-fiction version of my novel Patriarch Run. It details why we are so vulnerable to a cyberattack on our power grid. In my novel the bad guy wants to take down the grid as a means to commit mass murder on a scale never seen before in human history.

You can learn more about this vulnerability at my Discussion Guide.

Population Media Center

I want to share some of the most important work being done in the world. Below you'll find Population Media Center's strategic plan.In a nut shell, they are aiming to triple their impact. Population Media Center is currently working in 10 countries. They aim to be working in 30 countries by 2025.

Population Media Center is an advisory partner for my eco-thriller Patriarch Run.I work with them because the unintended consequences of continued population growth are dire. Those consequences includ...

New EMP Weapon

Boeing successfully tested an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon capable of disabling electronics. The Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) was tested in Utah at a training range.

This relates to my work because the bad guy in my triller Patriarch Run intends to commit mass murder on a scale never seen before in human history by taking down the power grid. You can learn more about this vulnerability at my Discussion Guide.

This weapon could disable portions of the p...

Government Takes Threat to the Grid More Seriously

In a few hours, NOAA and NASA will launch the GOES-R satellite, which, among other things, will warn us if a dangerous coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading for Earth. A large CME could take down power grids and create an apocalyptic scenario like the one outlined in my thriller Patriarch Run. You can learn more about how our civilization has evolved over the last 100 years to depend absolutely on a vulnerable power grid at my Discussion Guide.

Rae Ellen Bichell of NPR did a news piece yester...

Today Is World Vasectomy Day!

World Vasectomy Day (#WVD), a global initiative now in its fourth year, has become the largest male oriented contraception event in history. It is creating conversations among men about the benefits of family planning, addressing their concernsand helping them to participate in a role that is too often borne solely by women.

Click here to go to worldvasectomyday.org and learn more.

And you can learn how World Vasectomy Day relates to my eco-thriller Patriarch Run by reading by Discussion Guide....