Rep. McCaul calls for critical infrastructure protections

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called for Congress to protect critical infrastructure systems from cyberattacks during a hearing but stopped short of calling for government regulations.

"The potential of cyberattacks is frightening. The Stuxnet worm is groundbreaking malware launched against the Iranian nuclear program — it is so devious in its use of computer vulnerabilities with such a multipronged approach that the Iranians had no idea they were attacked. Such a successful attack against the United States with viruses designed to manipulate, bring down industrial control systems could cause devastating human and economic losses," he said. He warned that cyberattacks could blow up natural-gas pipelines, derail trains, hack financial systems and cause chemical plants to leak toxins.