This is one nightmare scenario which would be easy for warring nations to do: cut internet cables. If the Nord Stream pipeline could be blown up, internet cable destruction would be a piece of cake. The chaos out in digital world, especially if there was Central Bank Digital Currencies, would be immeasurable, and the cables span continents and are highly vulnerable:
"The U.S. is accusing Russia of preparing to cut undersea cables which carry Internet traffic all over the world, and Russia is accusing western powers of preparing to do the exact same thing. In some cases, these undersea cables literally stretch from one continent to another, and so it is impossible to guard them. That means that they are an exceedingly vulnerable target, and it is probably just a matter of time before someone decides to attack them. Of course, if the undersea cables that connect one global superpower to the Internet get hit, they will probably start cutting key undersea cables that connect their enemies to the Internet. Needless to say, such a scenario would have the potential to turn apocalyptic very rapidly.
According to CNN, U.S. officials are warning that there has been "increased Russian military activity around key undersea cables"…
The US has detected increased Russian military activity around key undersea cables, and believes Russia may now be more likely to carry out potential sabotage operations aimed at disabling a critical piece of the world's communications infrastructure, two US officials told CNN.
Russia has put increasing emphasis on building up a dedicated military unit, which deploys a formidable fleet of surface ships, submarines and naval drones, according to one of the officials. The unit, the "General Staff Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research," is known by its Russian acronym GUGI.
"We are concerned about heightened Russian naval activity worldwide and that Russia's decision calculus for damaging US and allied undersea critical infrastructure may be changing," a US official told CNN. "Russia is continuing to develop naval capabilities for undersea sabotage mainly thru GUGI, a closely guarded unit that operates surface vessels, submarines and naval drones."
On the other side, the Russians are suggesting that it is actually the U.S. and the U.K. that are preparing to start attacking undersea Internet cables…
An ally of Vladimir Putin has accused the U.S. and the U.K. of intending to sabotage underwater internet cables and planning to destabilize the maritime energy trade.
In reporting the comments by Nikolai Patrushev, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind posted, "it would be funny, but such statements often sound like a cover for their own intentions."
When contacted for comment, a British Foreign Office spokesperson told Newsweek on Tuesday: "We are not going to provide a running commentary on Russia's conspiracy theories."
So who is telling the truth?
I don't know.
But what I do know is that these undersea Internet cables are incredibly important…
Undersea cables, also known as submarine cables, are the physical infrastructure that connects the digital world. Hundreds of fibre-optic cables, some no thicker than garden hoses, are laid out across the ocean floor, enabling the real-time global transmission of data and communications signals. These cables facilitate around 99% of internet traffic as well as the telephone calls, data transfers and other telecommunications that enable modern life to function. The first undersea telegraph cable was laid in 1858; today, there are almost 400, most of which are commercially owned and operated.
What would happen if all of the undersea cables connecting a particular country to the Internet suddenly got cut?
I did not have an answer to that question, and so I asked Google, and this is what Google told me…
Communication disruption
People would lose access to phone calls, video, messages, and streaming services.
Financial impact
E-commerce would be affected, and the stability of financial networks would be at risk.
Critical infrastructure impact
Power grids, transportation networks, and water networks could be affected.
Country-wide impact
A country could be severed from the internet, which would impact banking, business, and health networks.
Repair delays
It could take months to repair the cables.
That sounds really bad.
If we were suddenly cut off from the rest of the globe, there would be widespread economic chaos…
Payment systems and ATMs would be down. Trillions of dollars would be wiped off the European and US economies as banks were unplugged from the global financial system, with economic effects felt across the world. Workplaces and businesses that rely on the internet would also go down. Educational institutions would struggle to conduct online learning, impeding students' education and limiting access to knowledge and resources.
E-commerce would take a hit too, exacerbating disruptions to supply chains and shortages of essential goods. Brick-and-mortar stores would be cut off from communication with suppliers, limiting access to food and other essential supplies.
If someone cut just a few dozen cables, we would suddenly be facing the biggest disaster for the U.S. economy since World War II."
It would be much easier to do than blowing up a gas pipeline.
https://michaeltsnyder.substack.com/p/if-they-cut-the-undersea-cables-that