Cyber Threat – Some Fear Computer Attacks Could Cause or Intensify Physical Terror

Evildoers commandeer thousands of home computers, creating a virtual army that knocks down chunks of the Internet. Computer infections hit a nuclear plant, crash a 911 system, snarl train service and shut down ATMs. A neighborhood glitch compromises air traffic control computers. It’s all happened before, security experts say. Luckily for America, it hasn’t happened all at once – yet. There is skepticism, but some fear it could. The recent accidental power outage which took out tens of millions of electricity consumers also spurred concerns. “The Northeast power blackout & could happen as a result of a terrorist attack using cyber [methods],” said Richard Clarke, America’s former cybersecurity czar, now an ABCNEWS consultant. “[There are] a lot of people in the Department of Homeland Security that believe the only terrorist events worth worrying about are the ones with explosions and bodybags, and that’s a very 20th-century way of looking at the problem,” Clarke added. “In the 21st century, cyberspace is what controls the country.” Full Story