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

[Rob Rosenberger <junkmail@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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@xxxxxxxxxx
(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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