This is an interesting article that my husband, Glenn, wrote about the possibility of a major cyber attack shutting down the internet. He felt compelled to research and write about this subject in light of the recent internet outtages we have been experiencing….

“A cyber attack is defined as a malicious attempt to disrupt or harm a computer system. A cyber attack may consist of ransomware or loss of data, among many other possible damages to a computer system. What is the impact of a cyber attack? Very few understand how a cyber attack can influence the internet. The internet is one of the pillars of the modern world. A cyber attack that can shut down the internet has a multitude of detrimental effects on the modern world. Can a cyber attack shut down the whole Internet? In this modern age where everything is connected, what are the consequences of such an event?

Cyber attacks are a major threat to business today and for years to come. A cyber attack can corrupt data, get malicious software onto a computer and damage other systems. A common cyber attack is the virus which spreads by attaching itself to a common program or to e-mails to send a malicious file. Cyber attacks can target companies via the internet using a number of types of malicious files. Cyber attacks have been around since the late 1980’s when the first virus was created. These threats are continually evolving and become harder to defend against as cyber attacks become more sophisticated and more powerful. Cyber attacks may have been known as an incredible Internet threat for many years but as cyber attacks become more frequent and destructive, companies may be hesitant in getting the latest full protection.

Sometimes online threats to web based systems are serious and eventually cyber hackers will get in by exploiting some vulnerability of the internet infrastructure. In other cases hacker’s have discovered other methods to cause system failures and or bring down of an entire enterprise if necessary.

With several of our major online services being disrupted, a cyber attack causing an Internet blackout is unlikely but at the same time possible. However, a cyber attack is often planned with computers from around the world working together to plan, co-ordinate and execute the cyber attack. A cyber attack is basically where several computers and organisations are targeted simultaneously and their data shared with each other. Computer crashes, hardware failures, fires, floods and other factors may cause a cyber attack. These factors increase the likelihood of a cyber attack if something goes wrong.

Imagine a scenario….

“The year is 2038 when it all comes to a standstill after the internet shut down. It is the fall of the world economy which leads to a general depression worldwide. Economic indicators started to fall during the first three months of the year but the drop was not as noticeable as one would imagine as a result of a yearlong jobless rate, and all economies after that had a slow recovery, until a cyber attack in 2038, which will bring the entire world to a standstill. With all money being digital, nobody can access their bank accounts. The financial system is sent crashing and almost overnight, the savings of millions of people is wiped out. There is panic and widespread looting in every part of the world. Companies lay off their workers. Civil order begins to break down in most countries. The electrical power grid, the gas, the water all goes off. The world global economy is sent crashing to its knees. Eventually,  they get the whole net back up and running though the security is much tighter and restricted. People would have to apply and pay for digital citizenship to browse the net and your movements would be monitored closely. What you do on the internet would be restricted to. The digital citizenship would grant only certain levels of access meaning you wouldn’t be able to access certain websites or make content. “

What makes this scenario so dangerous is the heavy reliance we have put on the internet. Almost everything is connected now and many businesses rely on the internet to make money. Should it all come crashing down because of a huge worldwide cyber attack, the results would be catastrophic. And if the internet is fixed, to prevent another major cyber attack, they would likely ramp up the security and restrict access to people which is where digital citizenship comes in. I know I might be sounding like a paranoid conspiracy theorist here but my guess is that such a digital citizenship would require a vaccine number amongst other things.

According to federal officials, cyber attacks on the internet have grown in sophistication in recent years, challenging every company’s ability to guard their information systems. This included the loss of data affecting more than 350 million people.

Cyber attacks on Internet have unfortunately become a part of our daily life, along with the many bad things they bring with them. If you spend a lot of time online, having someone monitor your website and security measures can help increase the level of security you have.

When it comes to protecting your home and personal information, it is imperative that you set up an account for your business. Any time someone gains access to your email address or business address it can compromise that private information. It’s not only the effect that it will have on your business, but your own personal information as well. Identity theft, having your entire account emptied is now a daily occurrence and it doesn’t matter how sophisticated your level of protection is, it cannot really protect against every cyber attack. Hackers are becoming more and more clever and sophisticated with their methods. I’m sure you have experienced any number of outtages on the internet, events where part of the infrastructure of the net goes down affecting any number of businesses and banks. I experienced occasions like this where I could not access my bank account because of an Internet outtage. And its a nightmare when you have big bills to pay.

Just recently there have been quite a few occurances of portions of the internet going down, affecting large numbers of businesses and banks. Many conspiracy theorist believe these internet outtages are preplanned attacks, pre-cursers for a Black Swan event, one that will bring the whole infrastructure of the internet crashing down. The internet is perhaps one of humankind greatest inventions. It’s clever and brilliant, though fragile at the same time. Will a major cyber attack bring the internet crashing down?

Only time would tell.”

Glenn Riley