Internet Kill Switch

[CRedskinsRule]

I found this article particularly interesting because it is written for the Australian papers and thus from non-US centric point of view:
Obama internet 'kill switch' proposed

This article gives what I think is a balanced view of the proposed legislation:

Internet Kill Switch Proposed For President - cbs4.com

Bottomline, Congress may give the President the legal ability to take over, and/or shutdown the internet in a national emergency. Nowadays, that's probably a more scary button then the one to launch the nukes. Further, the bill limits liability of companies if their software somehow screws up in an emergency.

Just think if suddenly the internet was gone, not just for the Warpath, but for all the financial, business, and massive data that flows non-stop. The Australian article compared it to the ability to control the atmosphere. It is amazing that the internet is so entwined into the world fabric. (Thanks Al G! )

[joethiesmanfan]

Al Gore really out did himself when he invernted this Internet. WOW no norp if Obama hits the button? scary

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Is there anything the government thinks it shouldn't control? Air, water, cyberspace, it never ends.

There is absolutely no need for this.

[KLHJ2]

Everybody bitches about it until one day a worm steals all of your money and sends it to a bank account in Africa.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Angry

Everybody bitches about it until one day a worm steals all of your money and sends it to a bank account in Africa.

That's why you use a bank or credit union that provides you protection against that happening in writing.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

That's why you use a bank or credit union that provides you protection against that happening in writing.

What happens when they cannot protect themselves because they too have been victimized? The FDIC can't bail out everyone if it happens all at once.

[joethiesmanfan]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

That's why you use a bank or credit union that provides you protection against that happening in writing.

Sammy I understand your point, I don't want the government controlling my Internet browsing habits. But, from a national security point of view, I think that if foreign countries can use cyber attacks the Internet is a border fo sorts and therfore comes under federal jurisdiction. What if some idiot gains control of the air traffic control system like on the show 24? It is not impossible.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Angry

Everybody bitches about it until one day a worm steals all of your money and sends it to a bank account in Africa.

Or China uses the 'net to take control of our economy and military as the first step of an invasion.

[firstdown]

How would a person kill the internet without shutting down all communications? You would have to shut down cable, satellite systems, telephone connections, etc... to shut down the internet if my thinking is correct.

[joethiesmanfan]

Originally Posted by firstdown

How would a person kill the internet without shutting down all communications? You would have to shut down cable, satellite systems, telephone connections, etc... to shut down the internet if my thinking is correct.

Good question...

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by firstdown

How would a person kill the internet without shutting down all communications? You would have to shut down cable, satellite systems, telephone connections, etc... to shut down the internet if my thinking is correct.

I could tell you but then...

It looks like they would just make the ISP's shut down internet connectivity only. All they world have to do is turn off their servers and routers. Ir can be done without turning off yor television and phone. Just like you can have a problem with only one but the same company provides you with all three.

Titled "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act", the bill stipulates any internet firms and providers must "immediately comply with any emergency measure or action developed" by a new section of the US Department of Homeland Security, dubbed the "National Centre for Cybersecurity and Communications".

[KLHJ2]

Bump ^

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Angry

What happens when they cannot protect themselves because they too have been victimized? The FDIC can't bail out everyone if it happens all at once.

The IT security regulations and practices for financial institutions are normally very strong. This regulation isn't to protect financial institutions anyway, this is for a "national security threat".

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by joethiesmanfan

Sammy I understand your point, I don't want the government controlling my Internet browsing habits. But, from a national security point of view, I think that if foreign countries can use cyber attacks the Internet is a border fo sorts and therfore comes under federal jurisdiction. What if some idiot gains control of the air traffic control system like on the show 24? It is not impossible.

Without going into too much detail, critical government infrastructure (DoD, DoE, DHS) is isolated from general internet traffic and there are security measures and safeguards in place to protect against cyber-attacks which are ongoing constantly.

This bill is just another case of not "letting a crisis go to waste".

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

The IT security regulations and practices for financial institutions are normally very strong. This regulation isn't to protect financial institutions anyway, this is for a "national security threat".

Yeah and an "economic threat" is included in "national security". I only mentioned the money because sometimes that is the only language that people speak around here. Trust me when I tell you that I know what I'm talking about.