RUSSIAN cyberattackers could target police forces, hospitals, and local government in a mass breach that could send the US back to the 19th century, experts have warned.

It's feared that Moscow-backed cybercriminals could target institutions to cause chaos across the US.

Cybersecurity expert Hugh Taylor told The Sun that Washington is in a “heightened state” amid fears of a potential attack.

And, security officials fear that Moscow could carry out a cyberattack as retaliation against western sanctions that Putin compared to a "declaration of war".

Taylor speculated that hackers could target state police forces, local government, and hospitals, claiming they're poorly defended.

The cybersecurity expert said: “Maybe they may want to switch off emergency services to stir up political unrest.

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“This hasn’t happened yet but you could see the potential for bad actors such as Russia to foment problems.”

He speculated that cybercriminals could resort to social engineering tactics, potentially leading to a confrontation in the streets as groups of society are pitted against each other.

And, geopolitical expert Brandon Weichert warned that depending on what institutions are targeted, a cyberattack could send the US hurtling back to the 19^th century.

He warned that Putin will escalate elsewhere if he feels that he cannot achieve success on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Weichert said: “Russia is not going to abandon its mission in Ukraine so long as Putin is in charge. They will fight to the death.”

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Cybersecurity expert Glenn S Gerstell warned about Washington’s vulnerability to an attack.

He told The Guardian: “If we had approached this correctly 20 years ago, we would be largely invulnerable to cyber-attacks.

“But unfortunately that is not the case.”

Gerstell, who served as the general counsel of the National Security Agency, doesn’t believe Russia will “turn out the lights” but warned the private sector, in particular, isn't prepared for attacks.

He said: “The US has been reactive and side-stepped cyber responsibility by simply grafting it on to existing government agencies, making each agency responsible for its own area.”

Taylor, author of Digital Downfall: Technology, Cyberattacks and the End of the American Republic, warned that there’s a “greater risk” that the conflict in Ukraine could trigger the world’s first cyberwar.

He warned: “People are worried that a piece of malware that’s launched against a company or government agency will then slip out onto the internet and will start affecting other entities, such as the NotPetya ransomware attack.”

CYBER ATTACK FEARS

In June 2017, the Petya malware targeted the websites of Ukrainian firms including banks, newspapers, and electricity companies.

Infections were reported around the globe including France, the US, the UK, and Australia.

Computer screens warned users that their files and systems would be destroyed if they didn’t send the equivalent of $300 in bitcoin.

But cyber experts discovered that the ransom demands were a disguise.

Text expert Matthieu Suiche suggested that the virus was driven by political terrorism.

He wrote on Twitter: "Ransomware and hackers are becoming the scapegoats of nation-state attackers. Petya is a wiper, not a ransomware."

Last week, New York City was placed on “ultra-high alert” but cops have found no credible threats so far.

John Miller, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, said the threat to critical infrastructure in the city is “always high”.

'HIGH ALERT'

Miller acknowledged there’s a “heightened threat” but said officials have been preparing for it.

Taylor believes more cities around the US will raise their cyber alert status.

He claimed that politicians want to go on the record to warn Americans about the serious risks of a cyberattack.

Taylor said: “I think they want to say ‘This is an important thing to pay attention to’ and they don’t want someone later saying ‘How come you didn’t warn us?”

As the war rages in Ukraine, Biden has reportedly been presented with options to disrupt Russia’s military ability, according to NBC News.

Sources told the outlet that options include shutting off electricity, tampering with railroad switches, as well as disrupting internet connectivity.

An official said: “Our response will be harsh and measured, but not so severe as to encourage Putin to take more drastic steps.”

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