http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:56:58 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-212438 Rereading this thread made me wonder if they have bots out there that can argue/debate on specific threads, and thus if one would show up on BC. Although considering all of the tangents we get into on here, smoke would probably come out of the bot's ears if it tried. 212438@blogcritics.org Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:56:58 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125712 Dang! Those new pyjamaa I got sure are powerful:) 125712@blogcritics.org Sun, 6 Mar 2005 01:25:20 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125503 Dear Sirs Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this excellent forum. We would like you to read the following items step by step and without prejudice (some are in PDF format) from our web site www.mi2g.net: 1. SIPS FAQ list (Reports) 2. University of Oxford speech (Presentations; Speeches) 3. The full article and not just the excerpt posted of "2007:..." (Latest News; Articles; 1st March 2005) 4. The economic damage graph (1995-2005) and note the components and the way they have fluctuated over time (Latest News; Articles; 16th February 2005) If you can study the issues presented holistically; observe the data we have collected over time; then make your comments on an informed basis with your own judgement without bias, we would find that to be more reasonable. The numerous experts you have cited have very little credibility with serious players - some are considered jokers or foul mouths - other than Richard Clarke because of his former advisory position to the US Presidents. You will find that SANS and CERT echo the concerns we have recently published as do the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) in the US. We know that the National High Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU), the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) in the UK have voiced similar concerns to the British Government in recent months. Richard Clarke has made some very interesting comments over time (so this expert has changed his tune markedly): Archive material within the mi2g Intelligence Unit on Richard Clarke records the following: December 19, 1999: " . . . Richard A. Clarke of the National Security Council, repeatedly warns them that 'cyber terrorists' could launch computer attacks 'shutting down a city's electricity, shutting down 911 systems, shutting down telephone networks and transportation systems,' as he said in a recent interview." November 4, 1999: National counter-terror guru Richard Clarke appeared yet again in a story entitled "US Said Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks" distributed by the Associated Press. ``We could wake one morning and find a city, or a sector of the country, or the whole country have an electric power problem, a transportation problem or a telecommunication problem because there was a surprise attack using information warfare.'' "Clarke compared the reliance [on computer networks] to former drug addicts enrolled in a recovery program," read the AP article. ``We need to take a lesson from that -- at least they know they have a dependency problem. Many of you are still in denial.'' "[Clarke] said [programmers] hired to make a company's computer system Y2K compliant could easily slip `a little Trojan horse or malicious code' into the system instead." February 1, 1999: Richard Clarke: "I'm talking about people shutting down a city's electricity . . . shutting down 911 systems, shutting down telephone networks and transportation systems. You black out a city, people die. Black out lots of cities, lots of people die." New York Times. Why does you article not mention that Richard Clarke was a keen supporter of the words "cyber terrorism" in the not too distant past. He used it frequently and the entire thesis around electronic pearl harbour of going back to the stone age, which we felt was exaggerated. Our own views on cyber terror issues are presented on our website. (Latest News; Articles; 10th November 2004) Also, please note the views of the former heads of the CIA available on our website are worth reading so that your colleagues and readers can not that we are not a lone voice. (Latest News; Articles; 14th December 2004) We appreciate this opportunity and thank you for your welcome interest. Best wishes The mi2g Intelligence Unit (mIU) 125503@blogcritics.org Sat, 5 Mar 2005 05:20:00 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125496 They likely have their company name Google alerted - there name is in there it comes to them and when someone uses it - like here, it comes to their mailbox. Comes as a result of being a Google News source. Pretty funny nevertheless that they would post such a lame - factless response. Usually people wait until they have their shit together if it's in any way serious. Did I say people? Scratch that, I meant companies usually ... At the same time your response was perfect. 125496@blogcritics.org Sat, 5 Mar 2005 04:12:28 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125468 Well, it appears you've attracted some serious attention, AL. Good job! :) 125468@blogcritics.org Sat, 5 Mar 2005 01:37:51 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125427 The mi2g Intelligence Unit? Um, someone has created a sentient being and nobody told me? Oh, I get it. It's marketing-speak for "us." So how it works is that a marketing company pretending to be an analysis firm sends out a press release expecting people to print it or summarize it and then when someone doesn't create glowing press, the same marketing company claims to have mysterious secrets and immediately tries to attack the credibility of the writer? Aaman has been around here for a while, guys, so put up or shut up. 125427@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 20:54:43 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125424 Buy a Mac . (Sorry, it somehow seemed appropriate.) :-) 125424@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 20:31:40 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125404 Thank you for your interest - we would be extremely interested in your clarifications and explanations on this important issue. This is an open comments forum so go right ahead. I absolutely agree with you that this is an important issue for the 'global digital ecosystem' - being a software vendor yourself, i'm sure you have the users' interests at heart. How can users protect themselves? BTW, this is a gratis opinion/data-driven article - I love Personal Computers, but actually think computers per se are poorly designed and over-generalized tools that can be improved to deliver real value to users. My main purpose in life is the pursuit of knowledge, oxygen and free beer. 125404@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 18:39:00 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125401 Dear Sirs We have noted this posting by Aaman Lamba with interest. There are several errors and omissions in this posting and facts have been skewed to fit the agenda of some large software corporation with a vested interest in PCs. Is Aaman Lamba a paid stooge whose main purpose in life is to discredit those organisations that have anything to say against the PC and the OS and application sofware that runs on it? We repeat our concern for the global digital eco-system because of the rise in botnets and zombies. The only beneficiaries are the software vendors and not the users. We also believe that Richard Clarke has done an about turn. We have archives of material by him which goes extensively into cyber-terror scenarios over several years. Richard Forno uses despicable language like "mathematical masturbation" to get across a simple point and that is because he knows that he does not have any credibility unless he takes cheap shots. Best wishes The mi2g Intelligence Unit 125401@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 18:30:48 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125126 no, but I have witnessed it 4 times and am empathetic as all get out 125126@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:36:37 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125121 Eric, you've given birth? ;-) 125121@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:34:24 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125109 it can be like giving birth 125109@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:19:02 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125106 Thanks - I feel a sense of catharsis - this post took some effort. Strangely, publishing it seems to have cured me of my graphomania - I have the urge to write again. :) 125106@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:14:36 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125104 very nice job Aaman acknowledging the dangers but putting them in perspective, much more than I expected from the original press release! Thanks 125104@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:12:44 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/04/144554.php#comment-125102 Aaman, An excellent, thoughtful analysis and deconstruction of utter alarmist bullshit. 125102@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:12:38 EST