Michael, Not at all.
I use only Microsoft platforms and always disable Microsoft Outlook and the Microsoft address book although I realize that this does not solve all problems. The problem is very similar to that of wiping out our biodiversity. We are losing our ability to mutate. Bill On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 10:57:55 -0700 "Michael Gurstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > If, as seemingly is at least possible, the power outage in NAm was > the > result of one or another of the computer viruses currently > circulating. > And if, as those more knowledgeable than myself have long contended, > that Microsoft products are designed in a way which enables such > virus > attacks. And if the security of one third of the US population and > probably the same proportion of the Canadian population have been > severely compromised by the action (or inaction) of the software > supplier what does this suggest as an appropriate policy/national > security response to the ever greater dependence of the world on a > single software supplier? > > Does this sound like Science Fiction? > > MG > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Christoph > Reuss > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 4:55 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Futurework] now the neo-cons have some explaining to > do.. > > > Karen Watters Cole wrote: > > Does anyone want to comment on the theory, suggested by Arthur’s > > colleague, that the blackout originating in Ohio was caused by a > > disabled computer, infected by a virus or worm, thus unable to > respond > > > in an emergency situation; > > The renowned German computer magazine c't suggested that the power > outage in N.America was caused by the W32.Blaster worm that still > rages > thru unpatched Windoze systems: > > The Niagara powerplant (where the outage started) belongs to the > National Grid USA (http://www.nationalgridus.com), a customer of > Northern Dynamics (http://www.opcexperts.com). The powerplant's > control > system uses OPC ("OLE for Process Control") based on Micro$oft's > COM/DCOM model. This includes exactly the security loophole that > the > W32.Blaster worm exploits. The frequent reboots caused by the worm > are > blocking the DCOM communication and thus OPC on unpatched systems, > as in > the powerplants' SCADA systems (Supervisory Control and Data > Acquisition). > > (article in German: > http://www.heise.de/newsticker/data/ju-15.08.03-001/ > ) > > > > or do we just want to speculate that this power crisis was > > deliberately triggered to make political points specifically to > the > > advantage of the electricity industry and its political friends > > crafting Energy policy; > > Why should it be to their advantage? It has put them in the > defensive > (see subject line of this thread). It rather seems that IF it was > deliberately triggered, then by the Democrats, in preparation of the > presidential election campaign 2004 (along the lines of > http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=434764 > ). > > > > or that the Bush2 administration needed something to divert world > > attention from the California recall, the poor economy and > globocop > > occupation news arriving daily from Iraq? > > Then why didn't Dubya blame it on terrorists? > > > > On a more serious note, hopefully, we should see more interest in > new > > materials and innovations to improve both capacity and reliability > of > > existing lines that won’t require as much new construction, > grossly > > enrich the electricity lobby and/or activate NIMBY. > > Absolutely. I liked Rifkin's proposal at > http://www.guardian.co.uk/renewable/Story/0,2763,1021569,00.html > > > > Efforts to push through a > > jumbo energy package on the heels of a utility crisis will > resemble > > the forced passage of the USA Patriot Act after 9/11. - KWC > > The big difference is that the measures of the Patridiot Act are in > the > vested interest of Dubya's corporate backers and friends (à la > Carlyle) > whereas the opposite applies to a good solution of the utility > crisis. > > Chris > > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
