A few weeks ago, there was a massive blackout that affected hundreds of thousands of citizens in Ukraine. It wasn’t just any blackout either, it was an intentional blackout caused by hackers that targeted electrical power transmission systems. As Fast Company writes:

The attack is significant because it’s the first known time malware has been used to disrupt critical physical civilian services. Until this time most cyber attacks that have directly affected the public have remained in the realm of digital-–think the Target credit card hack or the Ashley Madison breach.

This blackout took place in the middle of winter and was intended to cause maximum harm. Remember that Russia and Ukraine are locked in a smoldering conflict over territory, so this event was another front in this particular war.

The takeaway from all this is that nation-states, hacktavists, terrorists, and criminal syndicates will target key infrastructures like electrical power grids. This means the power will not always be on when you need it, perhaps for long periods during inconvenient times of the year. Plan accordingly.