I think that we will eventually develop the cyber equivalent of Interpol. Call it Internetpol if you like.
Tracking down spammers and virus creators will be part of its job. Just as we developed rules of the road for the automobile highway we will have to develop rules of the road (and enforcement mechanisms) for the cyber highway. arthur -----Original Message----- From: Michael Gurstein [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 1:00 PM To: 'William B Ward'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Futurework] Responding to a Very Real Security Threat Hi Bill, No, I think we collectively are in the process of putting a lot more than that at risk (and much much more quickly)... (See below). The virus also closed down Air Canada (the reservation system and thus most of the flight network as well as banks, government departments, the local in (BC Canada) telephone company and others too numerous (and embarrassed) to mention... Evidently, the technology infrastructure of the world is coming to rely on the kindness (and competence and diligence) of a very large multitude of all too human, strangers... MG -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of William B Ward Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 5:53 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Futurework] Responding to a Very Real Security Threat 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 ------------------------------------------------- >Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:30:16 -0400 >From: Richard Jay Solomon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Fwd: (Microsoft) Computer virus shuts down CSXT rail system & part of >Amtrak >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-Spam-Status: No, > hits=2.7 required=7.5 tests=DOUBLE_CAPSWORD,MSG_ID_ADDED_BY_MTA_2 > version=2.31 >X-Spam-Level: ** >X-Spam-Filtered-At: eList eXpress <http://www.elistx.com/> > > >>Computer Virus Blamed in Temporary Shutdown of CSX Rail System >>Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch >>Publication date: 2003-08-21 >>Arrival time: 2003-08-20 >> >>Aug. 21--A computer virus was blamed for an early-morning shutdown of >>CSX Corp.'s 23,000-mile-long rail system yesterday. >> >>The emergency measure, which caused long delays for rail travelers, >>drew the attention of federal rail and security authorities. >> >>The virus damaged telecommunications systems that transmit data to >>CSX's signals, forcing the nation's third-largest railroad to grind to >>a halt about 1:15 a.m. >> >>Amtrak immediately halted 10 trains, including some heading to >>Richmond. Virginia Railway Express trains also were canceled in the >>morning. >> >>Passenger service was restored after about five hours, but was still >>running behind schedule late yesterday. >> >>CSX spokesman David Hall said the railroad was consulting with a >>number of federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland >>Security, "seeking their counsel and advice." >> >>No train mishaps were reported on the CSX system, which stretches from >>Florida to Canada. >> >>Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said, "We are working >>with CSX to address any vulnerabilities they may have to the recent >>Internet worm." >> >>CSX's computer specialists managed to erect a firewall to protect >>train dispatching and signal systems. Normal operations were expected >>today. >> >>"The virus has been contained, and we're in the process of doing a >>thorough inspection of every device that could possibly harbor the >>virus," Hall said. But some "intermittent slowdowns" in CSX's >>information technology system remained. >> >>CSX officials blamed "a strain of the Blaster" worm for the woes. >> >>Asked whether the latest difficulties reveal a vulnerability to >>computer hackers, CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan said, "We're confronting >>the same thing that a number of major companies are confronting." >> >>CSX is the only major freight carrier to report virus-related >>operating problems, according to Warren Flatau, spokesman for the >>Federal Railroad Administration. >> >>Flatau, whose agency oversees rail safety, said it was satisfied with >>the rail company's response to its computer problems "based on the >>information we have received to date." The agency intends to follow up >>with CSX to "determine if additional safeguards are necessary." >> >>The shutdown left many morning commuters stuck at Virginia Railway >>Express stations in Fredericksburg and Manassas. >> >>Amtrak spokesman Dan Stessel said 10 trains were halted as far south >>as Florence, S.C., and north to Pittsburgh. >> >>An inbound train from Washington arrived in Richmond more than eight >>hours late, according to Amtrak district manager Michael Jerew. >> >>"It's terrible, terrible," he said in his office at Staples Mill >>Station. "Most people were so tired they wanted to get off the train >>and go home." >> >>Those passengers probably are entitled to travel vouchers for the >>value of their tickets, Jerew said. >> >>After arriving fours hours late, Ronald Cromedy, of Charleston, S.C., >>said he was supposed to catch a connecting train to Newport News. >>Instead, the warehouse manager called for a company car. >> >>"If I get on a train, I might never get through," he said. >> >>CSX did not notify the VRE about its problems until shortly before >>passengers arrived for 5 a.m. trains, according to commuter rail >>spokesman Mark Roeber. >> >>He wondered why the railroad took so long to notify the regional rail >>service. CSX's Sullivan replied that the railroad had hoped it would >>be up and running before the morning commutes. >> >>"As soon as it became clear that it wouldn't, we notified them," he >>said. >> >>----- >> >>To see more of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, or to subscribe to the >>newspaper, go to http://www.timesdispatch.com >> >>(c) 2003, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va. Distributed by Knight >>Ridder/Tribune Business News. >> >>CSX, >> >>Publication date: 2003-08-21 ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as [EMAIL PROTECTED] To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/ _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
