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My email has been recently inundated with comments,
critiques, etc. of the virus "what if"
article. Many new ideas have been proposed (some
too scary to mention), many others shot down.
Many people replied as if they had the impression
that I was planning something of this sort.
Let me take a moment to say that I am in no
way, shape, or form planning anything of this
sort. This article was nothing more than many
thoughts strung together in the mind of a sysadmin
that often fears the worst. The point of my
writing was not necessarily to get all the details
correct, so much as to point out that we have
yet to see a virus founded on collaboration.
All the IT world has seen thus far has been
random assaults of individual exploits and targeted
at less than 5 or 10 websites. We have not seen
a multi-exploit virus yet. Nor have we seen
an attempt to spread the virus by blocking the
access to its fixes on a scale larger than simply
assaulting Microsoft websites.
In remembering some readings from my favorite
author, Tom Clancy, I thought I'd write a follow-up
to the virus "what if" article, based
in part on recent events, and again bringing
together many desparate ideas into one logical
thought. So let's carry on from Team Blue having
just released the virus...
So Team Blue has released the virus into the
open. As planned, it spreads quickly, beating
previous viruses in terms of speed and hits
5,000,000 systems in the first 24 hours. It's
completely worldwide within 2 hours. As with
all viruses, some items were not completely
thought through, so a few attempts at infection
are stopped or hindered, but overall the spread
is enough to suit the needs of the authors.
After 48 hours, the real payload is released.
Within 2 days of the viruses release, key systems
integral to our way of life are being impacted.
On the assaulted list are power grids, nuclear
power plants, ISP backbone routers, mass transportation
networks, FAA systems, etc. At its height, public
transportation ceases and power grids begin
to fail, similar to what was recently seen on
the East Coast. Millions are stranded at work
and in cities. Roads and freeways become parking
lots. People begin to walk home.
About 4 hours after the "payload"
starts to take effect, 10 people armed with
tubes of Ebola and Anthrax release their
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