At one time, “hackers” was just a term for some geeks stuck in their mothers’ basements, or an occasional threat to a company’s computer infrastructure, or, at the very least, a movie that almost ruined Angelina Jolie’s acting career. But now computer hackers will join the ranks of such weapons as patriot missiles, stealth bombers, and laser-guided missiles.
According to The Washington Post, in July of 2002, President Bush signed a secret national security directive ordering the government to develop, for the first time, rules for deciding when and how to hack into foreign computer systems. This directive is being compared to similar directives signed around the time of the development of the atomic bomb more than 50 years ago. The computer networks targeted would include radar systems, telephone networks, and other networks reliant on computers. The main reservation behind launching a cyber attack against foreign countries is the United States own enormous dependence on computer networks and, therefore, its extreme vulnerability to counterattacks.
The thinking behind these reservations goes right along with the same thing I tell everyone I talk to who uses a computer: computers are just as vulnerable as paper, if not more so. With paper, we expect our information to be vulnerable and so we take the necessary precautions, e.g., a fireproof safe. But with computers, people somehow think their information is invincible and isn’t susceptible to the entropic acts of nature. Systems will break down no matter what we do to prevent them from doing so. With computers, we allow ourselves to be lured into a false sense of safety. And then, as if out of nowhere, some stray magnet, one too many system crashes, a single computer virus, or an unforseeable act of God, causes a complete computer meltdown, not to mention our own mental breakdown.
I would hate to see this meltdown happen on a national level as a result of any action made by our government. If we dare to think we’re so high and mighty that our computer networks can’t be vulnerable to attacks, we could be putting ourselves in grave danger if we cyber attacked another country. Not to get philosophical, but just because we think something is a certain way doesn’t make it so. The knowledge that we use technology everyday has dulled our sensitivity to the safety of our computer networks and the information on them. The technology that was originally intended to unite humanity has driven wedges in between members of it. It all comes down to the Golden Rule: treat others like you would like to be treated.
The way things are going I’m definitely not for
the impending war with Iraq. Sure it might be great to shut down the computer
infrastructure of the government of a foreign country with one press of “Control-Alt-Delete”
as if we were in some James Bond movie. But just because we can do it doesn’t
mean we should.
Logo by Rebecca Kramer
HIRED:
• Konfabulator 1.0: This program runs Javascript and XML files called
Widgets on the desktop that can do almost anything. From being a remote control
for iTunes to fetching the latest news from the web, these little programs are
amazing. They are also easy to create with a little knowledge. Download the
program as well as a reference for making your own widgets at www.konfabulator.com.
($25)
• Lacie Data Bank: This 20 GB hard drive is the
ultimate for traveling. It looks like a bar of silver and is only slightly bigger
than a credit card. It has a small door that protects the USB 2.0 and Firewire
ports. This little baby looks very sleek and is perfect for extra storage for
a laptop or to haul around part of your digital movie. This Porsche design really
purrs. ($299)
• Apple Store in Schaumburg: This is the second Apple store I’ve
been inside and it won’t be the last. The environment is great. In this
brightly lit white space, you can get help with your computer at the genius
bar, attend classes on any number of topics, peruse the latest in software and
hardware, and even have your kids play in their own play area. Three words:
fun, fun, fun.
FIRED:
• AOL Time Warner: Haven’t people learned that AOL sucks yet? Even
though last quarter showed the first loss in AOL subscribers since its inception,
the company is still the king of dialup modem users. With more people making
the switch to cable and DSL, AOL is playing catch up with the other high bandwidth
Internet service providers. Get out of those chat rooms and get on with your
life.
• Patriot II: After denying the existence of any additional anti-terrorism bills, the government hopes to get even broader surveillance and detention powers with this follow-up to the U.S.A. Patriot Act of 2001. Controversial expanded powers would include but not be limited to increased domestic wire-tapping powers, the power to secretly detain citizens, and the power to access credit reports without a subpoena. Contact your state government official. Act up! Fight now!