This is probably a thread that needs to relocate to a new forum. I checked the purpose statement of this list and we are running outside that purpose, and have for many days. The thread is interesting, but it is currently misplaced. We either need to end it or relocate it. I propose the thread be relabelled "Cyber-Terrorism - In Search of Reality and Definitions (WAS: Code Red - A Possible Origin?)" if we wish to continue, and find a new place to post. The purpose of my original post was to show the list and some of the lurking, but interested subscribers a bit about how and what (although not in a forensically or truly functionally valid way) some of the processes are in the hunt for someone who takes it into their mind to write code that is destructive to systems that don't belong to them. In doing so, I had hoped that others would go on the hunt with me and that we would find other sites claiming responsibility and either publicly point out the perpetrators/co-conspirators or put the lie to the claims and show people how that was done. That didn't happen, and we degenerated into side comments on some of the points I'd made in what I thought was going to be my last post on the subject. The degeneration, as noted above, is valuable, probably more so than the original thread in my mind. But it is out of scope. I take most of the blame for that, as my original comments were also. My comments on "cyber-terrorism" and "information warfare" as terms beginning to enter the common vocabulary were aimed at the fear I have that more freedom will be taken from people as a result of what is actually a failing in the computer industry because of our laziness and greed. Touchstone issues have a way today of being used as copy for the PR vampires and pseudo-journalists to tout new products, sell airtime and column-inches and generally pervert the discussion. I suppose it's the nature of the "profession" of journalism these days that rather than doing adequate research, checking facts and sifting for conflicts-of-interest and the other things that would have caused a traditional journalist to run from a story, modern journalists look for the 'angle' that might get them a shot as the chief meat-puppet on AOL- TimeWarner. Just look at what has happened to CNN Headline "News," if you want a real-world example. These folks need us to define terms for them that will allow them to further adrenalize the world conciousness, further stress people, and, as a result, sell more soap and fizzy water. MY touchstone for incidents of the nature of Code Red and SirCAM is to remove "cyber" "info" and "e-" from the descriptions of the incident and then ask myself the incident is truly an act of terrorism or war. It is the same criterion I use when evaluating the business plans of new technology companies that I am looking at as an investor. If it doesn't make sense as a business, than it doesn't as an "e-business." Likewise, if it is not an act of terror, war or a crime, then appending a "cyber" "info" or "e-" doesn't make it one. Michael J. Cannon Ubiquicomm "Si vis pacem, para bellum." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This list is provided by the SecurityFocus ARIS analyzer service. For more information on this free incident handling, management and tracking system please see: http://aris.securityfocus.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sun Sep 02 2001 - 02:19:24 PDT