Tuesday, November 20, 2012

5. Extra Credit: Stuxnet

From Stuxnet: Anatomy of A computer virus from week of 10/1


The power of cyber warfare doesn’t come from the complexity or the target even though these are important factors. The power comes from the misunderstanding and abstractness that viruses and most software has from the average person. An average may not be particularly complex or dangerous, but if someone who does not have experience with computers is confronted with a possibility of infecting himself or herself with the virus then they are most likely going to become infected. How is someone who doesn’t have experience with computers going to deal with a virus. Nearly everyone on the planet does not have enough experience to deal with or pick apart a virus. This realization that is coming with extremely powerful and complex viruses is that there aren’t nearly enough people who have the knowledge to deal with and combat the viruses. Cyber warfare has become so prevalent that training to become knowledgeable about computers has become a top priority. Is this training enough? Training more children to be able to program and fight viruses is what the infrastructure needs in order for any country to survive in this new era of computers. With computers becoming the ultimate source or information, communication and now warfare the need for all people to be proficient with computers has never been higher. Groups such as anonymous are also becoming more important because they are showing companies how vulnerable they are to cyber attacks. Stuxnet has shown the world that viruses are no longer just for people to make money off of stealing identities or for recreation in destroying other peoples’ computers. Nuclear interference and power outages are now the greatest threats. How soon until people are dying directly from the effects of computer viruses? Cyber violence is so much more dangerous because of the anonymousness. We have reached a new era where everyone must be proficient on a computer if they want to survive.

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