US President Barack Obama is sufficiently concerned about it to order a root and branch review of computer security. The issue, of course, is cyber terrorism. Some say it’s a potential threat not just to governments but also to the entire western economic system and infrastructure. Others say that if it were going to happen, it would have occurred already.
In 2000, a disgruntled employee rigged a computerised control system at a water treatment plant in Australia and released 200,000 gallons of sewage into parks, rivers and the grounds of a major hotel. Hackers have already gained access to the American air traffic control system — in fact, they caused a partial shutdown of the system in Alaska. And the Office of the Inspector General has warned that further modernisation of air traffic control, using internet protocol technologies, will create more opportunities for those intent on mischief.
In a security audit, it identified no fewer than 763 potential vulnerabilities that would allow an intruder to execute remote commands or introduce malicious software. The jury is still out on whether cyber terrorism will be a major threat in the short to medium term. But in the meantime it does no company or organisation any harm to beef up its network security.
Even the great Jack Bauer in the current series of 24 wasn’t able to stop terrorists from infiltrating air traffic control and putting two planes on collision course.
What’s science fiction today often becomes science fact tomorrow.
In 2000, a disgruntled employee rigged a computerised control system at a water treatment plant in Australia and released 200,000 gallons of sewage into parks, rivers and the grounds of a major hotel. Hackers have already gained access to the American air traffic control system — in fact, they caused a partial shutdown of the system in Alaska. And the Office of the Inspector General has warned that further modernisation of air traffic control, using internet protocol technologies, will create more opportunities for those intent on mischief.
In a security audit, it identified no fewer than 763 potential vulnerabilities that would allow an intruder to execute remote commands or introduce malicious software. The jury is still out on whether cyber terrorism will be a major threat in the short to medium term. But in the meantime it does no company or organisation any harm to beef up its network security.
Even the great Jack Bauer in the current series of 24 wasn’t able to stop terrorists from infiltrating air traffic control and putting two planes on collision course.
What’s science fiction today often becomes science fact tomorrow.
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