Internet infrastructure operates on a wire and a prayer

[djbaxter]

Our fancy Internet infrastructure operates on a wire and a prayer
by Larry Dignan, ZDNet
April 10th, 2009

The fiber-optic outage?actually sabotage?in the Bay Area on Thursday reveals a dirty little secret: Our infrastructure is ridiculously vulnerable and it only takes a few vandals (or terrorists) to bring communication to its knees.

While it?s unclear what exactly happened, AT&T is offering a $100,000 reward to find the vandals that cut into fiber optic wires and whacked everything from hosting centers?including a few of our own?911 calls and other communication (Techmeme). Sam said it best: No matter how advanced we get we?re still hooked up to a big wire somewhere.

That?s not going to change. The big question: How are we going to protect those big wires?

...more

 

[Linda Buquet]

Super scary. I can't imagine being cut off for long.
I'd have major withdrawal symptoms.

 

[djbaxter]

There is a current debate raging about whether to add Internet Addiction Disorder to the forthcoming revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

 

[Linda Buquet]

I'd read somewhere it was considered an actual disorder now.
I'm definitely afflicted and addicted and not ashamed to admit it.

Is there a 12 step or therapy group here David? Maybe you should start one!

 

[djbaxter]

I don't think you qualify if you make a living on the net.