Cybersecurity experts warn that hackers could already be inside American utilities, likening the threat to a Trojan Horse that could be activated to disrupt critical infrastructure.

Concerns about smart devices and IoT in homes and businesses are rising, with calls for governance and protective measures across industries to reduce new attack surfaces.

The focus is shifting from chasing perfect security to building resilience, assuming attackers are present and working to limit the blast radius of any breach.

Industry veteran John Walsh of IGEL argues that many U.S. critical infrastructure assets are outdated (15–20 years old) and hard to upgrade, heightening vulnerability.

Experts warn that the widespread OT/IT integration in infrastructure makes defensive upgrades hard, as decision-makers resist taking systems offline for necessary improvements.

The warning spans utilities, water systems, food production, and other essential services, with potential cascading impacts on society and the economy.

Policy discussions continue on how governments should respond to these vulnerabilities amid heavy reliance on internet-connected infrastructure and aging equipment.

A French cyberattack on supermarket refrigeration led to spoilage and financial losses, illustrating how essential systems can be targeted and exploited.

Authorities and experts are monitoring patterns across the U.S., France, and the UK as adversaries practice and potentially escalate cyber operations.