US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated he is “very concerned” about the chance of a major cyber attack on the United States that could bring down government and financial systems. The declaration came as part of his testimony to a congressional panel regarding the upcoming Defense Department budget.

Panetta compared the danger of the cyber-attack on America to that of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

“I’m very concerned that the potential in cyber to be able to cripple our power grid, to cripple our government systems, to be able to cripple our financial systems would virtually paralyze this country,” Panetta told members of Congress. “As far as I’m concerned that represents the potential for another Pearl Harbor.”

Panetta said there are currently hundreds of attacks a day on systems within the United States government and private utility companies. He said the US military is doing what it can to stay prepared for a massive cyber assault.