Internet is designed to become a strength, resolve and dispersed damage, but the technology is still in the initial period.
Internet in danger of collapse. Artwork
Internet in danger of collapse. Artwork.
The fact that the Web has not stopped running for decades, sometimes it shows us is never at fault. But like any other system, biological or artificial, the Internet is likely to be damaged.
Malware "DNSChanger" 9-7 day has affected up to 200,000 computers, despite the hype, but that the risks. Here are 4 risks of Internet connectivity has been corrupted over large areas.
A. Weather in the universe
When you think of surfing the Web, you can not worry about what is happening on the earth's surface from the sun 92 million miles. But you should think about. Sunlight is one of the most threat to the communication system of ours.
Consider the satellite error. One afternoon in 1998, the Galaxy IV, a satellite worth $ 250 million is 35,000 km from Earth, suddenly are out of control. The main reason attributed to sunlight: The sun has caused damage to the Galaxy IV at the time, and many other satellites of Germany, Japan, NASA and Motorola, all of which failed at the same time.
The impact is immediate and the world. 80% immediately pager fails. Physicists, management and drug sellers nationwide recall and found that they do not get the message. NPR, CBS, Direct PC Internet and dozens of other services can not operate. According to estimates in recent years have at least 12 satellites have disappeared because of the effects of weather in the universe.
But not only do we have satellite worry. When a dark intense sunlight, it also causes magnetic storms on Earth. The largest solar radiation recorded so far was in 1859. Streaks of light called Carrington, had to blow the telegraph lines throughout Europe and America and became a terrible explosion.
Since that time, covered with earth technology has changed a little. If we encounter that type of halo light at this time, what happens? For the universe physicists and electrical engineers answer is clear: it will scan the transformer and air melt the computer system of ours. In a smaller incident in 1989, a storm from the power supply has lost most of Quebec and paste the Toronto Stock Exchange within 3 hours.
A large streaks of sunlight can theoretically melt the entire Internet. Earthquakes, bombs and terrorism can not be destroyed in moments such as the ability of the solar corona.
Whatever hope the communication systems of our planet, the satellite system and the ground, there is still a working concern. The great storm from the next peak in solar cycle dark halo in the middle of 2013. We have the same track.
Two. Cyber warfare
The future war is not war on the battlefield between soldiers healthy but by the smart kids sitting at a computer and soft drinks. Hence our reliance on the network, may also encounter these threats.
This future can be seen in the close relationship between physical conflicts and network attacks. We can see the conflict between India and Pakistan, Israelis and Palestinians or the parties to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the escalation of real world violence is immediately reflected cyberspace.
The main objective of the network war mainly military targets, but more and more multinational companies have also become targets. Let's take an example, even temporarily, you have seen there are many threats to the economic capacity of competitors rather than the sacrifice of soldiers.
Since starting the computer era, the 1960s, has a lot of computer viruses: the program into a host system to self-reproduce and send out a new copy. Even in biology, when the computer has evolved to complex, will have the virus and increase. And the children of viruses, "worms", do not even need a host system, but also multiply very spread through the network.
Although there are defenses in place, then the parasite has to be a small concern or not? Indeed, not less. Take a look at the child "deep" Stuxnet has stirred in 2010. The "deep" went the zigzag path to infiltrate the Iranian industry systems, programming the system, hiding their tracks and destroy the plant operations. Do not know from where, Stuxnet showed himself as a "who" destroyed, can not stop.
No one was surprised when future network war will not only related to military and public sector objectives, but also related to people's life goals. If you want to prevent competition, start by splitting your network.
3. Political factors
Faced with the pre-election violence in 2010 in Iran, the government then has 45 minutes to disconnect from the Internet, is said to set filtering YouTube, Twitter and other sites. Egypt has done similar work in the 2011 revolution. China is actively pursuing its ability to cut Internet in this way.
But not only countries like Iran and China think this way to control the Web. On 24-6-2010, a Homeland Security Committee in the U.S. Senate passed a bill allowing the presidential office for the implementation of Internet disconnection. Bill Protecting cyberspace is a National Property Act (National Asset Act - PCNAA), allowing the President "emergency authority disconnect the network private sector or the government in case of attack wide area network or human losses. "
Regulation sudden disconnection has been removed from the version of network security bill before Congress today.
Nearly all Internet security analysts feel close Web will bring more harm than good, such dependence on the Web to follow up the news, communicate with loved ones and the spread the word crisis is unpredictable.
A respected expert Bruce Schneier on security have identified at least three problems with the idea to stop Internet. The first is the hope of building a line of electronics will not always perfect because there are hundreds of ways to combat the enemy perimeter. There is no national or legal decree might know all the holes.
Second major problem is that we will be completely unable to predict the impact of the closure of the Internet with intent. Schneier said: "The Internet is a most complex machine was built and the Internet sector will have to stop all kinds of impact depends not anticipate."
3 The main issue is security holes exist. Once the disconnect from the Internet in the country suddenly was made, why a network attacker does not focus on anything else?
Though clearly the Internet can be used for purposes well in a crisis situation is said to far exceed the purported, but the best is still cut off access to the Web when things are worse. Although a recent poll said 61% of Unisys Americans agreed concept suddenly disconnect from the Internet, but this will certainly need vigilance.
4. Cut the cable
Although satellites are used to meet a certain Internet traffic, but more than 99% of global Web traffic depends on sea cable networks are seen as a nervous system. This is a big target in the war, especially the sensitive points on the system. And this is not a merely theoretical predictions, the battle takes place underwater is also fierce.
Up to three quarters of international communications between the Middle East and Europe is made possible by two optical cable routes: SeaMeWe-4 and trans-Asia cables - FLAG Telecom's FLAG Europe. On 30-1-2008, both cables were cut, serious effects to Internet traffic and international telephone calls from India to Egypt.
So far it is unclear how the cable was cut and who cut and it is unclear how much cable was cut, some have information for at least 8. The initial suspicion is due to anchor the vessel, but soon a video analysis showed no ships in the area 12 hours before to 12 hours after the incident.
Department cut this cable is just beginning. A few days later, on 1-2-2008, a FLAG Falcon cable in the Gulf of Pec-chain had been cut 55 miles off the coast of Dubai. Day 3/2, a cable between the Arab emirate Qatar agreed to cut some. On 4-2, Khaleej Times said not only the cable, but also many more services to cut the cable, a cable chain in the Gulf of Pec near Iran, and a cable from the shore SeaMeWe4 Malaysia.
The incident led to the Internet disrupted across the board, particularly in Iran. The suspect showed the destruction comes from no less a reason: most of all the cable cut in Middle East waters near the Muslim nation. Who can do this? No one knows.
Despite the fact that behind this, we see that if a government or an organization wants to destroy a large telecommunications streak can do. The new cables are needed to protect the global economy because the business world can risk the sensitive points of contact under the sea.
Whether it is terrorism, government and pirates, these weaknesses in our series should be updated.
Web appears to be an important technology was invented. We are fortunate in the generation to witness the beginning, and we now are those who are responsible for protecting the Internet.
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