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Cyberterror to hit in 2003

Posted by Keldyn on 13 December 2002 - 11:33 · 11 comments & 501 views

A major cyberterrorism event will occur in 2003, a technology research group predicted on Thursday, one that will disrupt the economy and bring the Internet to its knees for at least a day or two.

The event could take the form of a denial of service attack, a network intrusion or even a physical attack on key network assets, said John Gantz, chief research officer of IDC. Gantz spoke during a teleconference in which the research company laid out its annual forecast of technology developments in the coming year.

"The war with Iraq will galvanize hackers," Gantz said.

IDC's list of 10 predictions included sunnier projections, too, however. Chief among them was the company's view that spending on information technology and telecommunications will grow by more than 6 percent next year, reaching $1.9 trillion. Gantz said current data on U.S. IT spending and revenues from technology vendors worldwide are encouraging.

IDC generates the list of 10 projections by polling its more-than-700 analysts. Gantz said the company is usually right with 7 out of its 10 predictions. Successful predictions from last year, he said, included "streaming media will catch on," "corporations will reset security plans" and "Web services hype reaches hysteria levels."

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News source: c|net

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I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to play with the X5 for a few weeks now. It has done everything I need it to do - up to and including being the only computer I took with me on my recent trip to London. It’s a lot smaller and lighter than any laptop I could have taken and it allowed me to surf the Web plus access, read and answer my MSNBC.com e-mail in my hotel room via my trusty Compact Flash modem. Then again, any other Pocket PC could have done the same thing. But, overall the X5 worked really well especially for a $199 Pocket PC.

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But the most important feature of the X5 is what it means for all PDAs. I think it’s difficult to rationalize buying a $500, $600 or even $700 Pocket PC when you can get an equal device for $200-300. In some cases, when you factor in the X5’s built-in expansion slots versus others’ add-on sleeves — the Dell an out-and-out steal.

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On every count the X5 is the clear winner. Expect to see other Pocket PC manufacturers’ new smaller, less-expensive devices in the near future. I also expect to see a drop in the prices they’re charging for their current PDAs. But, if you’re looking for a full-featured PDA right now, you can’t do much better than the $199 Axim X5.

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#1 Posted by Fotix on 13 Dec 2002 - 11:59: [quote]"The war with Iraq will galvanize hackers," Gantz said. [/quote] Why would they wait? I don't get it. Did they just have to work Iraq into the story somehow? Are they on the Pentagon's payroll? [quote]and that the Linux operating system will snag market share from the Unix operating system. "We're saying that Linux will eat Unix," Gantz said. [/quote] No mention of a certain [i]other[/i] operating system? Strange omission from IDC here LOL [quote] "There will be more spam in your life," Gantz said.[/quote] Oh, stop the presses! Makes me glad Novell filters my email for me

(1 reply) #2 Posted by mrbester on 13 Dec 2002 - 12:17: In other news, it is predicted that rain will fall over most of the Earth's surface in 2003. Don't publicise such non-news. This is aimed at clueless PHBs, and is pure FUD.

#3 Posted by Tom Servo on 13 Dec 2002 - 13:03: [quote]A major cyberterrorism event will occur in 2003, a technology research group predicted on Thursday, one that will disrupt the economy and bring the Internet to its knees for at least a day or two.[/quote] OH MY $@%&§$$%§ GOD!!! How often has this bullshit being predicted now? Either it is a virus, a bunch of ahckers, or anything else that will bring the Internet and it's economics into its knees. Has it ever happened? NO! I'd suggest you go to www.vmyths.com and read/listen Robs rants about such folks. I wasn't at his site today, but I guess he got/will have a rant about this one too soon.

#4 Posted by Kombatant on 13 Dec 2002 - 15:00: I predict that I will use the toilet more than one time in 2003! What? You don't believe me?

#5 Posted by bckp on 13 Dec 2002 - 15:35: Oh, wow, that was incredibly hard to predict.

#6 Posted by Joshie on 13 Dec 2002 - 17:13: Oh please. Ever since 9/11, every official and expert on earth has been making [b]weekly[/b] predictions of the next terrorist attack. We are [b]constantly[/b] on the verge of being assaulted, according to these experts. Remember how the Pentagon kept saying there was a 100% chance of another attack on America? They've been saying that since 9/12/01 and seem to renew it every week or so. Oh, wait, they're [i]still[/i] saying it--that 'spectacular' attack we're supposed to get ANY DAY NOW. And now cyberterrorism? Boo fricken hoo. Someone needs to tell these asswipes the story of the boy who cried wolf.

#7 Posted by Stunod7 on 13 Dec 2002 - 19:37: I predict there will be lots of predictions in 2003... I aslo predict that the end of 2002 will bring another year...

#8 Posted by Yvo on 13 Dec 2002 - 22:58: I have no clue what these researchers are smoking at the IDC. You can't just bring the internet to its knees by DOSing a server or two. Yes there are 13 very important servers but these servers have more bandwidth than the entire internet combined. Please... this is crap

#9 Posted by brew crew on 14 Dec 2002 - 01:23: sounds like some more New World Order fear mongering to me

#10 Posted by jago6498 on 14 Dec 2002 - 01:39: I predict I will have to use my legs in order to walk... seriously tho, wasn't something like this supposed to happen this year or earlier? [quote]"There will be more spam in your life," Gantz said.[/quote] Heaven forbid we get more spam!!! Man it's organizations like this that make me sick. Of course things technology is going to expand enormously along with having some ups & downs. I'm pretty sure that the average person is able to figure these things out without having to have to their tax money be used on such non-sense.

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