--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The United States is more reliant on the…" description: "\"The United States is more reliant on the technical systems. We're more reliant on the critical infrastructure of the internet than any other nation out..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/edward-snowden-555_attacks_the-united-states-is-more-reliant-on-the_769871.jpg" --- # The United States is more reliant on the technical… ![“The United States is more reliant on the technical systems. We're more reliant on the critical infrastructure of the internet than any other nation out there. And when there's such a low barrier to entering the domain of cyber-attacks we're starting a fight that we can't win.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/edward-snowden-555_attacks_the-united-states-is-more-reliant-on-the_769871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/edward-snowden-555_attacks_the-united-states-is-more-reliant-on-the_769871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/edward-snowden-555_attacks_the-united-states-is-more-reliant-on-the_769871.jpg) > “The United States is more reliant on the technical systems. We're more reliant on the critical infrastructure of the internet than any other nation out there. And when there's such a low barrier to entering the domain of cyber-attacks we're starting a fight that we can't win.” [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our dependence on digital infrastructure makes us vulnerable to cyber threats, and low entry barriers enable many attackers, creating an unwinnable conflict. **In simple terms:** Tech reliance creates cyber risk. Key Takeaway Strengthen defenses and reduce reliance. Themes security technology vulnerability Mood cautious urgent Type political warning When to use this quote - National security planning - business continuity - personal data protection Key Concepts Cybersecurity critical infrastructure Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance connectivity with security? - What policies can lower attack barriers? A Different Perspective Security alone cannot guarantee safety; human factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Cyber attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cyber-attacks/) [Domain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domain/) [Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hacker/) [Infrastructure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infrastructure/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [When people conceptualize a cyber-attack, they do tend to think about parts of the critical infrastructure like power plants, water supplies, and similar sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/when-people-conceptualize-a-cyber-attack-they-do-tend-to-think-about/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I think the public still isn't aware of the frequency with which the cyber-attacks, as they're being called in the press, are being used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-think-the-public-still-isn-t-aware-of-the-frequency-with-which-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [What we need to do is we need to create new international standards of behavior - not just national laws, because this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/what-we-need-to-do-is-we-need-to-create-new-international-standards/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The bare bones tools for a cyber-attack are to identify a vulnerability in the system you want to gain access to or you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-bare-bones-tools-for-a-cyber-attack-are-to-identify-a/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [There are different levels of strength and resilience across the critical infrastructure enterprise, and that is why we are so focused on making sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/there-are-different-levels-of-strength-and-resilience-across-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [A major attack on our cyber systems could shut down our critical infrastructure - financial systems, communications systems, electric grids, power plants, water treatment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-coats/a-major-attack-on-our-cyber-systems-could-shut-down-our-critical/) [Dan Coats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-coats/) > [From bank accounts to financial systems, power grids to air traffic controls - our most critical infrastructure remain attractive cyber targets, and if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/from-bank-accounts-to-financial-systems-power-grids-to-air-traffic/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [The challenges posed by threats like terrorism, proliferation, and cyber attacks are not going away any time soon, and for our intelligence community to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-challenges-posed-by-threats-like-terrorism-proliferation-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Cyber attacks are not what makes the cool war 'cool.' As a strategic matter, they do not differ fundamentally from older tools of espionage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/cyber-attacks-are-not-what-makes-the-cool-war-cool-as-a-strategic/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Cyber attacks rain down on us from many places. You have to make your systems secure and safe and teach your people cyber hygiene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kersti-kaljulaid/cyber-attacks-rain-down-on-us-from-many-places-you-have-to-make-your/) [Kersti Kaljulaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kersti-kaljulaid/) > [What if someone hit us with an EMP, cyber-attack, and dirty bomb all at once? That would be pretty bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/what-if-someone-hit-us-with-an-emp-cyber-attack-and-dirty-bomb-all-at/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [It ends a 40-year ban on exporting U.S. oil. It's changed - it's included in its cyber-security legislation - that says to private companies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-davis/it-ends-a-40-year-ban-on-exporting-u-s-oil-it-s-changed-it-s-included/) [Susan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-davis/) > [ In terms of my conversations with \[Vladimir\] Putin, these are conversations that took place before the election. As I indicated, there has been very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-terms-of-my-conversations-with-vladimir-putin-these-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Encryption would help prevent a lot of cyber attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/encryption-would-help-prevent-a-lot-of-cyber-attacks/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Cyber attacks are not going away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/cyber-attacks-are-not-going-away/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) ## More by Edward Snowden > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The NSA and Israel wrote Stuxnet together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-and-israel-wrote-stuxnet-together/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [As a general rule, so long as you have any choice at all, you should never route through or peer with the UK under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-general-rule-so-long-as-you-have-any-choice-at-all-you-should/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We need to think about encryption not as this sort of arcane, black art. It's a basic protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-need-to-think-about-encryption-not-as-this-sort-of-arcane-black/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-lot-of-people-in-2008-voted-for-obama-i-did-not-vote-for-him-i/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too often we forget that social and political movements don't happen overnight. They don't bring change immediately - you have to build a critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/too-often-we-forget-that-social-and-political-movements-don-t-happen/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ There was a real choice when \[Barack Obama\] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obama-became-president-it-was-a/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's much easier, I think, to protect communications while they're in transit at least, than it is to enforce legislation in every country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-much-easier-i-think-to-protect-communications-while-they-re-in/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I care more about the country than what happens to me. But we can't allow the law to become a political weapon or agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-care-more-about-the-country-than-what-happens-to-me-but-we-can-t/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Explore all 478 Edward Snowden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## More Attacks quotes > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) > [I personally felt that his ad hominen attacks on British architects were not the sort of thing a Prince of Wales should be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/i-personally-felt-that-his-ad-hominen-attacks-on-british-architects/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [If nothing else, the cyber attacks that occurred during the 2016 presidential election have laid bare the very real vulnerabilities that exist across our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/if-nothing-else-the-cyber-attacks-that-occurred-during-the-2016/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“At the same time that we see a massive deployment of wireless radiation, we see the most violent attacks on modern society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/at-the-same-time-that-we-see-a-massive-deployment-of-wireless/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [At sleepovers I would have panic attacks trying to break it to girls that they didn't want to kiss me without outing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/io-tillett-wright/at-sleepovers-i-would-have-panic-attacks-trying-to-break-it-to-girls/) [iO Tillett Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/io-tillett-wright/) > [I knew I was having a panic attack. I hadn't had one in a while, though, and I'd forgotton how it makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/i-knew-i-was-having-a-panic-attack-i-hadn-t-had-one-in-a-while-though/) Hemantsmarty > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Weichel hits very hard and is very good with the timing of his attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/weichel-hits-very-hard-and-is-very-good-with-the-timing-of-his-attacks/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-wrongful-arrest-of-tens-of-thousands-of-british-muslims-after-the/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Mediocrity always attacks excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/mediocrity-always-attacks-excellence/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [The majority of terrorist attacks that have been disrupted in the United States have been disrupted due to things like the Time Square bomber,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-majority-of-terrorist-attacks-that-have-been-disrupted-in-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We can't gather the intelligence we need to foil future attacks, if we are blindly granting terrorists the right to remain silent. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-t-gather-the-intelligence-we-need-to-foil-future-attacks-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Less than a year after the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida attacks were continuing: the firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia in April, a bomb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/less-than-a-year-after-the-sept-11-attacks-al-qaida-attacks-were/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) Browse all 291 Attacks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The United States is more reliant on the technical systems. We're more reliant on the critical infrastructure of the internet than any other nation out there. 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