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List:       full-disclosure
Subject:    [Full-Disclosure] [Vmyths.com ALERT] Follow-up on latest cyber-terror prediction
From:       Rob Rosenberger <junkmail () barnowl ! com>
Date:       2004-08-31 23:23:08
Message-ID: 01c48fb1$Blat.v2.2.2$794ac786 () 10 ! 0 ! 0 ! 2
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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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