According to Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports, the US electrical grid is exposed to cyber attack, following its infiltration by Chinese and Russian cyberspies, who have installed malicious software that can either stop power supply or cause a system disorder.

Though the report says that there has been no damage to the grid or other national infrastructure thus far, experts opine that the hack is apparently "pervasive," with the likelihood of malevolent war-time use of the software.

Even as the US government has acknowledged the vulnerability of the power grid, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano refrained from commenting on the WSJ reports about a possible intrusion. Napolitano said: "The vulnerability is something we have known about for years. We acknowledge that in this world, in an increasingly cyber world, these are increasing risks."

Despite the fact that the cyber-espionage has not targeted any particular company or area, experts are concerned that the acquired access of the cyber-attackers may lead to their control of electricity and other systems distantly by means of the Web.

With the supposed risks related to potential cyber attacks, the government has initiated certain actions towards this end. With President Obama having ordered an all-inclusive cybersecurity analysis, the effectiveness the US cybersystems, which run the electrical grid mechanism, is under extensive scrutiny till next week.