[NEWS] CNN: Are we vulnerable to cyber-attacks?

From: The Other Guy (nospam@this.addy)
Date: 03/24/03 

From: The Other Guy <nospam@this.addy>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 00:23:51 GMT

>From CNN:

>From CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/03/20/fortune.ff.cyberattacks/index.html

Are we vulnerable to cyber-attacks? Most getting more serious about
security, but risks growing
Thursday, March 20, 2003 Posted: 1:35 PM EST (1835 GMT)

(FORTUNE.COM) -- With war on Iraq underway, the possibility of a
terrorist response is on all of our minds. In addition to the other
things we have to worry about, this is likely to be the first major
war that takes place with the entire world linked together by one
continuous set of electronic signals. That creates immense dangers of
war-related hacking and cyber-terrorism.
...
--------------------------------------
Some interesting comments there (although nothing that astounds any of
us):

"The attacks themselves are changing, too. 'The new kinds of attacks
are more malicious, not kids in the basement hacking... We're seeing
arms merchants for digital wars. Some hacker agencies in Bulgaria and
China have found holes in the Microsoft fabric and are crafting
toolkits to take advantage.' That means anyone can cause trouble. You
don't have to be a good programmer anymore.'

"Protest hackers are an increasingly serious problem."

"... the companies most at risk are those seen as symbols of American
global presence. If so, they ought to increase their cyber-security."

"... the vast majority of serious damage from cyber-attacks is caused
by organizational insiders. That means disgruntled current and former
employees, along with consultants and others with trusted access."

"Microsoft, while taking many steps to increase security for its
customers, is also adding to their headaches. In a policy announced
late last year, it decreed that henceforth software will no longer be
supported indefinitely with free updates and security patches, though
support will always last a minimum of five years."

"... contrary to popular perception, open-source software has gaping
security problems... 'Open-source software...is now the major source
of elevated security vulnerabilities for IT buyers... Unix- and
Linux-based systems are just as vulnerable to viruses, Trojan horses,
and worms [as those from Microsoft]. Furthermore, Apple's products
are...vulnerable now that it is fielding an operating system [OS X]
with embedded Internet protocols and Unix utilities.'" 

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