Could hackers take down a city?

Cities, like the rest of the world, now rely on a lot of computers. But the systems used to make even the most sensitive systems run can still contain security flaws. While the risk of an actual attack may not be imminent, the threat is looming large over cybersecurity researchers who warn that local governments aren't prepared. "The potential attack surfaces of a city is a huge challenge," said David Raymond, deputy director of Virginia Tech's IT Security Lab. "The digital pathways between all of the entities and organizations in a city is often not well managed. In many cases, there's no overarching security architecture or even understanding of holistically what the city looks like."

Researchers have already discovered vulnerabilities with new technology being used in many cities. In 2014, researchers found that traffic monitoring system used in dozens of US cities, including Washington (DC), could allow a malicious hacker to falsify traffic data and manipulate stop lights. District officials say the city is reviewing the security of its traffic sensors. Not everyone is convinced that cities are facing a cybersecurity crisis just yet: James Lewis, a senior fellow focused on cybersecurity at the the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says cities are likely only going to be a target for pranksters in the immediate future -- not cyberattacks aimed at creating real world damage. "There's been a tremendous amount of increase in vulnerability, but that does not translate into an increase in risk," he said.