Full Disclosure: [Vmyths.com ALERT] Follow-up on latest cyber-terror prediction

[Rob Rosenberger <junkmail () barnowl com>]

Vmyths.com Virus Hysteria Alert
Truth About Computer Security Hysteria
{31 August 2004, 18:15 CT}

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CATEGORY: Dire predictions of a cyber-war or cyber-terrorism

Russian news agency MosNews now reports "there was no terrorist attack on the Internet on August 26" as had been 
predicted.  According to Kaspersky Labs spokesman Alex Zernov, "media reports had attracted huge attention to this 
information and caused users to strengthen security measures.  'This made [the scheduled cyber-terror launch] date less 
favorable for the attack,' Zernov said.  'Terrorists are not in a hurry because of such a serious reaction,' he added."

   MosNews follow-up story with photo:
   http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/08/27/internetterror.shtml

   Vmyths coverage of the cyber-terror prediction:
   http://Vmyths.com/hoax.cfm?id=281&page=3

MosNews claims Zernov spoke directly to them.  If they correctly reported Zernov's comments, then Vmyths insists he is 
sorely mistaken on two major points.

First, only the Russian media focused "huge attention" on the predicted cyber-terror event.  Computer security firms, 
government agencies, and mainstream global newswire services didn't warn of an alleged threat.  Second, Vmyths has seen 
NO objective evidence to suggest computer users strengthened their security measures on or around 26 August.

Computer security fearmongers almost always applaud the media for "getting the word out" after their predictions flop.  
If MosNews correctly reported Zernov's comments, then it suggests Kaspersky Labs may be trying to backpedal with the 
Russian press.  This in turn would imply the antivirus firm engaged in a much larger publicity stunt on 24 August than 
Vmyths first suspected.

On a lighter note: MosNews published their follow-up story with a photo of "Chechen terrorist Shamil Basayev" using a 
laptop in an unidentified woodland area.  Basayev has threatened to launch "kamikaze" attacks in Russia, but Vmyths 
found nothing to suggest the warlord will mastermind a cyber-terror event in the near future.

Stay calm.  Stay reasoned.  And stay tuned to Vmyths.

Rob Rosenberger, editor
http://Vmyths.com
Rob () Vmyths com
(319) 646-2800

CATEGORY: Dire predictions of a cyber-war or cyber-terrorism

--------------- Useful links ------------------

Remember this when virus hysteria strikes
http://Vmyths.com/resource.cfm?id=31&page=1

Common clichés in the antivirus world
http://Vmyths.com/resource.cfm?id=22&page=1

False Authority Syndrome
http://Vmyths.com/fas/fas1.cfm

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