[infowar.de] WHEN VIRUS HYSTERIA STRIKES

[Olivier Minkwitz <olivierm -! - fogis - de>]

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WHEN VIRUS HYSTERIA STRIKES

The Internet did not come crashing down again today, despite the
inescapable
warnings that the predatory Code Red worm would unleash its fury last
night.

One might hope that each such Internet disaster that fails to come to
pass
would lead to a moderation of official rhetoric and a more realistic
assessment of the threat from cyber-terrorism and information warfare.

The Washington Times reported in a remarkable story today that Israel
has
been a target of particularly intense cyber-attacks from Islamic
militants
and others.  But even this focused "cyber-jihad" has produced limited
consequences, the Times observed:

"Despite recent fears -- often the subject of novels -- that hackers
could
cause airplanes to crash, traffic lights to misfire and electric or
water
systems to go haywire, [an] Israeli official said, 'I've never heard of
a
single successful cyber terrorist attack' against these institutions."

The web site Vmyths.com offers pointed commentary that seeks to deflate
exaggerated or self-serving claims about the threat of computer viruses.

Their resources include a list of things to remember "when virus
hysteria
strikes."  See:

        http://vmyths.com/index.cfm

--

Olivier Minkwitz________________________________________________
Research Assistant & Founder of FoGIS
Center on Transatlantic Foreign and Security Policy Studies
Office: Free University Berlin  Room# 103  Ihnestr. 22  14195 Berlin
Phone:  ++49 (0)30 838 56545
Fax:      ++49 (0)12 125 10791226
Mobile: ++49 (0)172 319 6006
www.fogis.de
olivierm -!
- fogis -
 de__________________________________________


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