Re: [Full-disclosure] Ideas for school project...

From: -osgo- (osgo_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 03/15/05

  • Next message: Ka: "Re: [Full-disclosure] Ideas for school project..." 
    To: <full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk>
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 04:48:12 -0800

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Ron" <iago@valhallalegends.com>
    To: <full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk>
    Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 12:04 AM
    Subject: [Full-disclosure] Ideas for school project...

    > Hi everybody,
    >
    > I'm taking a fourth year University course called "Topics in Computer
    > Security." One of our assignments is a "major project" (probably a 10
    > or so page report, although she hasn't been very specific on the
    > requirements) that's due in a few weeks. We have been given a choice of
    > topics, and we are required to do research on what we choose.

    When I want to wake up and realize there's always a little urine with
    the sugar, my mind tends to meander towards "End of Civilization"
    scenarios. No killer asteroids, PMS'ing girlfriends, or the eventual
    takeover of the earth using clones from the "I've fallen, and I can't
    get up!" commercial... That's too dramatic. What I'd be writing about
    would simply be about how vulnerable we are to utility disruption via
    SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system compromise.

    I participated in a number of audits last year and came away with an honest
    feeling of dread. Numerous points of entry, legacy platforms, IR, easily
    determined
    RF, and readily available software equate to mammoth disruptions ahead,
    perhaps
    to be repaired by inadequate staff who, at their best, were quite befuddled
    once
    they lost their GUI.

    Furthermore, a reliance on one particular OS platform certainly guarantees
    everyone going to hell in a bucket, baby, when that one potential tie in,
    kernel flaw,
    or misguided youth high on Qat figures out a way to bring down the Great
    Satan
    and everyone else while they're at it by letting the levy run dry, amock, or
    just
    palin FUBAR'd.

    Studies show that most Western cities could go about 3 weeks (pls. don't ask
    me to ref., OK, Google It) before complete and total anarchy would ensue.
    Combine lack of power, lack of water, Chevy Camaro/Opel Manta drivers, lack
    of SCADA-driven sanitation and we have a city-by-city collapse that would
    make
    the Blitz seem like a holiday in Cambodia. (courtesy of the Dead Kennedy's)

    BOHICA (Bend Over, Here It Comes Again)...gotta die of something, right?

    Tschus,
    -osgo-
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