A wide-ranging Daily Mail feature warns that America's critical infrastructure – water, power and transport networks – is dangerously exposed to a coordinated cyber-physical attack from hostile states, which experts describe as a potential "cyber 9/11". Citing national security officials and think-tank analysts, the article argues that such an assault could be more devastating than the September 2001 terrorist attacks, since it would not be as visible but could cripple cities within hours by knocking out power, clean water and sewage systems, causing cascading shortages of food, medicine and other essentials.

The report highlights specific incidents underpinning the warnings: in July and August, hackers compromised water and wastewater utilities across roughly a dozen US states, hitting more than 30 municipal systems in Minnesota alone and briefly taking the town of Braham's entire water supply offline, with US investigators suspecting Iran acted in retaliation for tensions with Washington. Separately, a Chinese-linked hacking group known as Volt Typhoon has reportedly infiltrated electricity, water and transport networks using stolen credentials to avoid detection, with analysts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warning Beijing could coordinate with Russia, Iran and North Korea for a simultaneous, nationwide "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" strike, potentially timed to a future move against Taiwan.