February 9, 2001

4:18 PM

I had a nightmare once that Fidel Castro hacked into my PC. Is this nightmare now a reality? Or is this just more goofy and dangerous cyberwar hype?
posted by tranquileye (5 comments total)

Sounds like they're using it as an excuse to do away with high bit encryption. They can't stand that thought that there might be some unsnoopable form of communication ou there.
posted by ritualdevice at 4:24 PM on February 9, 2001

For cryin' out loud. Leave poor, little Cuba alone, you pack of bullies!
posted by lagado at 5:29 PM on February 9, 2001

I read the interview they did with Fidel at 2600, and it was staggering.
posted by xtrmntr at 8:52 PM on February 9, 2001

It's hype, but it's not entirely goofy. Digital attacks on communications networks are going to be part of our future, and unlike physical warfare, a little backwater like Cuba could easily assemble a trained force.

One of the reasons for the Love Bug virus was that the Phillippines are churning out too many computer science students for the jobs available.

Attacks would be more likely of the DDoS variety or targeted at known exploits such as forging entries at the root nameservers. Imagine 24 hours of havoc ... half the world's name services fuX0red ...

I don't know that Cuba is really planning such. But they or anybody else could.
posted by dhartung at 10:52 PM on February 9, 2001

The fabric of reality could tear apart, too.
posted by mblandi at 6:27 AM on February 12, 2001