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Four Threats For '09 You Haven't Heard of

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the fear-mongering dept.

ancientribe writes "Security experts are cautiously on the lookout for some lesser-known but potentially lethal threats that could be more difficult to prepare for and defend against in 2009. These aren't your typical enterprise hack attacks. They're mainly large-scale Internet threats — attacks that knock out sections of the Internet infrastructure, radical extremist hackers, Web attacks that adversely affect online ad revenue, and even the unthinkable: human casualties as a result of a cyberattack." Also known as the new group of things the fear mongers will use to make you do their bidding.

13 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But we've heard of them all. What about that super volcano in Yellowstone? Now that is something that no one has heard of and it would be cool if Slashdot posted an article about that.

  2. "The Unthinkable" by Knara · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why is "human causalities as the result of cyberattack" supposedly unthinkable?

    1. Re:"The Unthinkable" by spazdor · · Score: 5, Funny

      I tried to formulate a response to your question but my mind just won't go there. I'm having trouble figuring out why.

      --
      DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!
    2. Re:"The Unthinkable" by SBrach · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe you're already a casualty?

    3. Re:"The Unthinkable" by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 4, Interesting

      People often forget that many real world, physical system have internet connections, and therefore many people cannot even fathom the idea of a cyberattack resulting in human death. I read about a hack a few years ago that nearly resulting in a man being shot and killed by a SWAT team: somebody had spoofed the phone system and issued a call to 911 indicating that he was holding a family hostage, and the SWAT team arrived and very nearly shot the father in that house. The kid who executed the hack never even considered the possibility that a SWAT team with automatic weapons might actually fire their guns during the confusion (or so he said when he was arrested by the FBI). TFA indicates that a malware attack hit a UK hospital and shut down the computer systems, forcing doctors and nurses to search for paper records.

      --
      Palm trees and 8
    4. Re:"The Unthinkable" by SnarfASnack · · Score: 4, Funny

      He's seen it, he just didn't get it.

      --
      01010011 01101110 01100001 01110010 01100110 00100000 01100001 00100000 01010011 01101110 01100001 01100011 01101011 001
  3. The One that REALLY has me scared... by Cornwallis · · Score: 4, Funny

    The new self-parking Ford to be powered by Microsoft Sync!

  4. Unlikely by Crudely_Indecent · · Score: 5, Funny

    the unthinkable: human casualties as a result of a cyberattack.

    My daughter tries to play this card. She says "If I can't get on myspace and talk to my friends, I'll just die." (She never dies)

    --


    "Lame" - Galaxar
  5. Re:How to Falsify Evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Stop talking. Please. You're going to kill us all.

  6. Only if it is an iVolcano. by khasim · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From TFA:
    e-bomb
    Middle Eastern cybercartels

    And so forth. Lots of technobabble, not much factual information.

  7. Oh noes muslims with computers! by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The biggest threat facing the internet in 2009 is pointless scaremongering laid out on more pages than it should be to get more ad revenue.

  8. Re:How to Falsify Evolution by mlwmohawk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because of your post, I think we need a "Billy Madison" moderation.

    What you wrote wasn't flamebait or over rated, it was stupid.

    "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

  9. I just had to point out a couple things, sorry by mlwmohawk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Any theory that does not provide a method to falsify and validate its claims is a useless theory.

    In real science we state claims and provide proof and theory as to why we accept them as true. Furthermore, we make predictions that can be tested. In science, nothing is "disproved," all things are assumed false until proved. Its make more sense that way as I can not disprove your watermellon claim, but you have offered no theory or proof as to why your claims should be believed in the first place.

    I could claim anything and you would be foolish to believe. If I make a claim and provide proof and a theory to explain why it is so, and you check out the proof, you have the ability to prove or disprove it on your own.