What does DHS view as the countrys biggest risks? A hint came last April, with a widely distributed draft of a report for use in national and local planning. What does DHS view as the countrys biggest risks? A hint came last April, with a widely distributed draft of a report for use in national and local planning. (DHS has not released the final version.) “National Planning Scenarios,” a dire 157-page report, listed 14 unranked scenarios that collectively demonstrate the need for a far-reaching range of response capabilities.Nuclear detonation: 10-kiloton improvised nuclear deviceHundreds of thousands of people are killed when terrorists detonate a nuclear device in a densely populated area during rush hour.Biological attack: plagueTerrorists release pneumonic plague at a city’s airport, sports arena and major train station.Biological attack: food contaminationTerrorists infiltrate a food plant and contaminate beef with anthrax, which is then shipped to three states. Biological attack: foreign animal diseaseTerrorists infect farm animals with foot-and-mouth disease at specific locations.Chemical attack: toxic industrial chemicalsTerrorists land several helicopters at oil refineries and launch rocket-propelled grenades and detonate bombs. Chemical attack: blister agentTerrorists use an airplane to spray chemical blister agents on a packed college football stadium.Disease outbreak: pandemic influenzaA new and severe respiratory illness sweeps the country.Biological attack: aerosol anthraxA tractor-trailer exiting a large city at rush hour disperses 100 liters of anthrax.Natural disaster: hurricaneA Category 5 hurricane makes landfall in a major metropolitan area.Natural disaster: earthquakeA 7.2-magnitude earthquake and then an 8.0-magnitude aftershock shake a metropolitan area, affecting 10 million people.Chemical attack: chlorine tank explosionTerrorists infiltrate an industrial facility and rupture a chlorine storage tank, releasing a large amount of chlorine gas. Radiological dispersal devicesTerrorists detonate dirty bombs in three separate but regionally close moderate-to-large cities.CyberattackTerrorists conduct cyberattacks on critical infrastructures using a sophisticated network of bots built over a long period of time.Bombing using improvised explosive devicesTerrorists detonate multiple bombs at a crowded sports arena and then the lobby of the nearest hospital’s emergency room.Related: Three Not-to-Miss RisksSpinning the Wheel of Misfortune Related content feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime news analysis China’s offensive cyber operations support “soft power” agenda in Africa Researchers track Chinese cyber espionage intrusions targeting African industrial sectors. By Michael Hill Sep 21, 2023 5 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks Critical Infrastructure brandpost Proactive OT security requires visibility + prevention You cannot protect your operation by simply watching and waiting. It is essential to have a defense-in-depth approach. By Austen Byers Sep 21, 2023 4 mins Security Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe