CBNNews.com - Former and current U.S. government officials say that spies from rival nations have hacked into the U.S. electric grid.

They left behind a little present: computer programs that would disrupt service and potentially cripple our national infrastructure, leaving the U.S. literally in the dark.

The programs were discovered during government inspections of the electirc grid.

A former government official told The Associated Press that although the extent of this cyber-sabotage is unknown, it is almost certainly the work of state sponsors. The two likeliest culprits China and Russia have already denied involvement.

Both nations have a long history of cyber attacks.

U.S. officials believe the spies would likely would try to damage the electirc grid in the event of a war or crisis.

Protecting the electrical grid and other infrastructure is a key part of the Obama administration's cybersecurity review, which is to be completed next week.

A senior pentagon official said this week that the pentagon has spent $100 million in the past six months repairing cyber damage.