Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!caen!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!suned1!slced1!lev
From: lev@slced1.nswses.navy.mil (Lloyd E Vancil)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Techno Terror
Message-ID: <9517@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL>
Date: 29 Apr 91 20:22:35 GMT
Sender: efb@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL
Organization: NSWSES, Port Hueneme, CA
Lines: 34



I have just finished reading an article in the LA Times magazine of a
couple of Sundays ago about "Automatic Freeways."  This article expounds
at great length on the development and use of automated freeway systems to
solve the traffic problems in a metropolis such as LA.  
Basically, such a system would involve computer guided autos, and a network
of machines that control the network under the roadway.  This would mean that
a network of computers (non-motile) would be controling and "conversing"
with a large number of moving computers.  All in all, a much considered
concept, nothing new here.
I wonder, however, if these designers have given any thought to the potential
for techno terror.  A "dick dastardly" finagles the computer in one
sector of the system to change the destination of each vehicle passing through
its control. The contollers would have to be able to re-route traffic around
problems.  Or a High-tech assasin targets one car and sets a program that
alters its destination every few seconds/minutes.  The victim car becomes the
fellow who was lost on the MTA, forever going nowhere at top speed.  -Boy!
what an analogy for today.-
If the entire network could be subverted, all of the vehicles in the net
would be going nowhere at top speed forever...

How would we react to such techno terror?
How would we combat it?
With the things we have learned about self replicating programs, I tend to
believe that techno-terror has already happened and will become more pandemic
in the future.

Comments?

--
 | suned1!lev@elroy.JPL.Nasa.Gov | * S.T.A.R.S.!   .       +      o       |
 | lev@suned1.nswses.navy.mil    | The Revolution has begun!   .     +    |
 | sun!suntzu!suned1!lev         | My Opinions are Mine mine mine hahahah!|