WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Advanced hackers are now able to control a variety of devices used to run manufacturing and power plants. The U.S. government issued an alert on Wednesday to warn of the danger of cyber spies attempting to damage critical infrastructure.

Jointly, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency announced that malicious hackers could be able to affect a specific type of device called programmable controllers (EPA:), and OMRON Corp.

OMRON didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Schneider representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

These controllers exist in many industries, from food production to gas production. However, Robert Lee (chief executive of cybersecurity company Dragos), stated that the hackers were targeting electric and liquified infrastructures.

Cybersecurity Agency issued an alert urging critical infrastructure organisations, especially Energy Sector, to follow a set of recommendations that are aimed at blocking the detection and prevention of malware.

The alert sent out concern throughout the industry, even though it was unclear – the alert did not indicate whether the malware was used or who the hackers might have been.

Programable logic controllers can be embedded in many plants and factories. Any interference with them operation could cause damage, including blackouts and shutdowns as well as chemical leaks and equipment wreckage or explosions.

Lee stated that the tool created by the mysterious hackers was highly capable and likely had been in development for many years.

Lee stated in an interview that “it is as dangerous and as dangerous as people make it out to be.”

Western cybersecurity professionals are on edge about Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. They have also seen recent deployment of malware that can cause power outages.

CISA announced that it would be making the announcement along with the Department of Energy and the National Security Agency to show how serious the discovery was.

The alert thanked Dragos and Mandiant as well as Microsoft (NASDAQ:), Palo Alto Networks(NASDAQ:), and Schneider Electric, for contributing to this alert.