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Submitted via IRC for SoyCow3196
A cyberattack could wreak destruction comparable to a nuclear weapon
People around the world may be worried about nuclear tensions rising, but I think they're missing the fact that a major cyberattack could be just as damaging—and hackers are already laying the groundwork.
With the U.S. and Russia pulling out of a key nuclear weapons pact—and beginning to develop new nuclear weapons—plus Iran tensions and North Korea again test-launching missiles, the global threat to civilization is high. Some fear a new nuclear arms race.
That threat is serious—but another could be as serious, and is less visible to the public. So far, most of the well-known hacking incidents, even those with foreign government backing, have done little more than steal data. Unfortunately, there are signs that hackers have placed malicious software inside U.S. power and water systems, where it's lying in wait, ready to be triggered. The U.S. military has also reportedly penetrated the computers that control Russian electrical systems.
As someone who studies cybersecurity and information warfare, I'm concerned that a cyberattack with widespread impact, an intrusion in one area that spreads to others or a combination of lots of smaller attacks, could cause significant damage, including mass injury and death rivaling the death toll of a nuclear weapon.
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 21 2019, @02:05PM (6 children)
"As someone who studies cybersecurity and information warfare"
Clearly not very well. Over the last few weeks there has been a coordinated shift in MM reporting to a all in FUD reporting. The way they know there is going to be a recession is because they've decided to manufacture one by scaring the shit out of people.
Good to see that SN has joined the mainstream. I think this will be my last post here.
Go FUD yourself.
(Score: 4, Touché) by Alfred on Wednesday August 21 2019, @03:09PM (3 children)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by DannyB on Wednesday August 21 2019, @03:36PM (2 children)
First they came for the Anonymous Cow Herds. But I said nothing because I did not post that way.
Then . . . I noticed how much better the quality of the messages were.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Alfred on Wednesday August 21 2019, @03:47PM (1 child)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 21 2019, @10:43PM
I'm waiting for them to take out the Popeye's that was just built down the street from their future location. The Popeye's is next to a Taco Bell, so maybe they'll accidentally hit both....
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday August 21 2019, @06:09PM
An Inverted Yield Curve [investopedia.com] has preceded every recession.
Guess what curve just inverted!
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Thursday August 22 2019, @11:06AM
If your posts are all like this one, conflating cybersecurity with economics, you won't be missed.