Griefers Assault Epileptics Via Message Board

An anonymous reader tips us to a story up at Wired reporting on what may be the first computer attack to inflict physical harm on victims. Last Saturday, griefers posted hundreds of bogus messages on the support forums of the nonprofit Epilepsy Foundation that used JavaScript and strobing GIFs to trigger migraines and seizures in users. For about 3% of the 50 million epileptics worldwide, flashing lights and colors can trigger seizures. "'I don't fall over and convulse, but it hurts,' says [an IT worker in Ohio]. 'I was on the phone when it happened, and I couldn't move and couldn't speak.' ... Circumstantial evidence suggests the attack was the work of members of Anonymous, an informal collective of griefers best known for their recent war on the Church of Scientology. The first flurry of posts on the epilepsy forum referenced the site EBaumsWorld, which is much hated by Anonymous. And forum members claim they found a message board thread — since deleted — planning the attack at 7chan.org, a group stronghold."

Comments

My name is Chip

[gelfling]

And I'm different
I don't conform
I wear a different uniform

I'm out of the blue
And so you are, too
Let me sing about one thing that's clear
That nobody owns
The pleasure of tones
That belongs to a guy with no ear

They tried to give me advice
Down at the record shop
I said sit down boys
This may come as a shock
What's all I listen to
It's all freedom rock
How can you free me [4x]
When I'm free?
I am free

My name is Chip
And I'm different
I don't conform
I wear a different uniform

I'm out of the blue
And so you are, too
Let me sing about one thing that's clear

That nobody owns
The pleasure of tones
That belongs to a guy with no ear