Some Cisco routers cited by Bigr R were reported to have been accessible, but the proof he offered that he had hacked into industrial systems was all faked, Santamarta said via instant message.

Others agreed: "We now believe most, if not all, of this is a hoax and an attempt to embarrass [Florida Power & Light]," wrote Eric Byres, CTO with Byres Security,

One expert, Wesley McGrew of security consultancy McGrew Security, had thought on Sunday that Big R's claims were probably legitimate. By Monday he had changed his mind and agreed that "it looks like a lot of it has been faked."

Bigr R insisted Sunday that he was not a hoaxer. Late Sunday and Monday, however, he did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.

The IDG News Service