Viral Video Hoax, or Proof of Impending Cyber Apocalypse?

This video of hackers taking over the lighting controls in an urban skyscraper in order to play the world’s most awesome game of Space Invaders is ominous proof that intruders really are eyeing utility control systems as targets, warns security vendor McAfee.

“Perhaps the first demo was just for fun, but the others will have less juvenile goals,” McAfee Avert Labs researcher Francois Paget blogged on Friday. “An attack can involve nationwide damage, a terrible effect on the public’s morale, and huge financial losses.”

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Poulsen will explore the question in depth as he moderates the CFP Panel, Hacking as a National Security Threat: How Real Is It?  As much attention is being paid to cybersecurity policy issues, panelists will discuss how real the threat is behind these policy debates.  Does hacking — whether by foreign governments, organized crime, or lone hackers — really pose a national security-level threat?  

Panelists include:
Herb Lin, National Research Council 
Amit Yoran, Former Bush Administration Cybersecurity Czar 
Michael Tanji, Former Supervisory Intelligence Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency 
Moderator: Kevin Poulsen, Senior Editor, Wired News