-Caveat Lector- >From Deseret News, http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,115007970,00.html? - Thursday, September 09, 1999 Y2K bug opens door to terrorists, Bennett says He says China considering attack on U.S. computers By Lee Davidson Deseret News Washington correspondent WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, says the year 2000 computer bug has created an unexpected new threat — maybe bigger than the myriad other potential Y2K glitches worrying the world. He says because Y2K problems exposed how dependent America is on all-too-vulnerable computers, China indicates it might attack America by targeting its computers rather than with its military. "The Chinese have now said publicly in a paper that was published just a week ago that they are considering shutting down the United States' computers rather than attacking the United States" through military means, Bennett said. He said the Chinese paper concludes that the "American military is too strong. America's vulnerability is in its computers." Bennett said terrorists and others may follow suit. He said such attacks — from hackers, industrial spies, terrorists and enemy nations — are "going on right now and it will not stop on Jan. 1, 2000." Meanwhile, on the bright side, Bennett said America has made far more progress in solving Y2K glitches than he ever dreamed possible but some problems will still occur Jan. 1. Bennett gave that assessment Wednesday in a speech to the National Press Club after two years of investigating and warning about the bug as chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem. Bennett said enemies took notice when the Y2K problem showed how a minor computer glitch could wreak havoc with power, water, transportation, finance and other critical areas. That problem comes because older programs allow only two digits for a year, so the "00" when 2000 arrives would be interpreted as 1900. Bennett said, "This finally hit me as I was going through the Y2K experience. I realized how disadvantageous it would be to our economy to have all our computers fail by accident. What hit me was: What happens if they fail on purpose? "What is our vulnerability to those who wish us ill for one reason or another, who would use the depen- dence that we have on computers as an opportunity to attack us?" Bennett asked. He said, "There are the terrorists who would just love to shut us down in one way or another. We expect that they will attempt to use Y2K as a cover" for attacks, possibly slipping in viruses that computer operators may not notice as they struggle with other Y2K issues. On other Y2K matters, Bennett said, "We have accomplished far more than I would have predicted." But, he added, "Unfortunately, we still face the challenge that most of the (optimistic) information in front of us is self-reported. . . . There's always a concern that it may be a little too rosy." So, he added, "the situation is that awareness has paid off and work has been done — but where fingers must still be crossed." He also warned that experts say "even in those systems that have had the greatest amount of work has been done to alleviate problems, there is going to be a series of failures." "Where? I don't know," he said. He added those failures are predicted to be minor and relatively easy to repair at organizations that have been working hard on the problem. "Most of the experts say the problems in the United States can be solved in 72 hours. And that's a very reassuring kind of number," he said. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., the ranking Democrat on the committee, appeared with Bennett, noting foreign nations are in much worse shape than America in addressing the problem. He said many countries in "South America, Africa, Asia and even parts of Europe clearly are not prepared for Y2K." He said the biggest concerns are in China, Japan, Russia and Italy. Dodd said he is also concerned with the U.S. health-care industry because it is especially dependent on computer microchips in equipment, and some recent testing showed some supposedly Y2K-compliant machines still will fail. Dodd said the biggest threat from Y2K is that people may panic and unnecessarily hoard money and food, creating shortages because of it. He said no need exists for such hoarding. -- Dan S DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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