U.S. vulnerable to cyber attack

The simulation involved 230 representatives of government defense and security agencies, private companies and civil groups. Participants said the simulation revealed flaws in leadership, planning, communications and other issues. It was held December 17 and today in Washington D.C. Sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton and Business Executives for National Security.

"There isn't a response or a game plan," said senior vice president Mark Gerencser of the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting service, which ran the simulation.

U.S Representative Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, the Democratic chairman of the intelligence subcommittee on technical intelligence, said billions of dollars must be spent by both government and industry to improve security.

This exercise was the broadest in terms of representation across government agencies and industrial sectors, officials said.

Cyberattacks are predicted to become a routine warfare tactic to degrade command systems before a traditional attack by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, addressing the participants at the end of the exercise.