They were out to create seizures - Nubblies.net Forums

vaga1220 * · 05-09-2008, 03:06 AM

SAN FRANCISCO — Computer attacks typically don't inflict physical pain on their victims.

But in a rare example of an attack apparently motivated by malice rather than money, hackers recently bombarded the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site with hundreds of pictures and links to pages with rapidly flashing images.

The breach triggered severe migraines and near-seizure reactions in some site visitors who viewed the images. People with photosensitive epilepsy can get seizures when they're exposed to flickering images, a response also caused by some video games and cartoons.

The attack happened when hackers exploited a security hole in the foundation's publishing software that allowed them to quickly make numerous posts and overwhelm the site's support forums.

Within the hackers' posts were small flashing pictures and links — masquerading as helpful — to pages that exploded with kaleidoscopic images pulsating with different colors.

"They were out to create seizures," said Ken Lowenberg, senior director of Web and print publishing for the foundation.

He said legitimate users are no longer able to post animated images to the support forum or create direct links to other sites, and it is now moderated around the clock. He said the FBI is investigating the breach.

Security experts said the attack highlights the dangers of Web sites giving visitors great freedom to post content to different parts of the site.

In another recent attack, hackers exploited a simple coding vulnerability in Sen. Barack Obama's Web site to redirect users visiting the community blogs section to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's official campaign site.

The hackers who infiltrated the Epilepsy Foundation's site didn't appear to care about profit. The harmful pages didn't appear to try to push down code that would allow the hacker to gain control of the victims' computers, for instance.

"I count this in the same category of teenagers who think it's funny to put a cat in a bag and throw it over a clothesline — they don't realize how cruel it is," said Paul Ferguson, a security researcher at antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc. "It was an opportunity waiting to happen for some mean-spirited kid."

In a similar attack this year, a piece of malicious code was released that disabled software that reads text aloud from a computer screen for blind and visually impaired people. That attack appeared to have been designed to cripple the computers of people using illegal copies of the software, researchers said.

THEINCREDIBLEdork · 05-09-2008, 03:45 AM

about time someone taught those epileptic freaks a lesson.

Heaven Can Wait · 05-09-2008, 07:10 AM

Old, very old.

vaga1220 * · 05-09-2008, 07:40 AM

It happened Wednesday, that's not very old at all.

Heaven Can Wait · 05-09-2008, 08:18 AM

No it didn't.. it was months ago
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...311322,00.html
http://www.wired.com/politics/securi...08/03/epilepsy
http://www.techradar.com/news/intern...website-290502

vaga1220 * · 05-09-2008, 09:30 AM

Clearly my info is dated. I'm going to fire my secretary for this embarrassment.

Mr. Blonde · 05-09-2008, 01:03 PM

that's fucking hilarious.

05-09-2008, 03:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
vaga1220 * *Dislikes ham Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: HELL 666 Posts: 1,518 Internets: 60790	They were out to create seizures SAN FRANCISCO — Computer attacks typically don't inflict physical pain on their victims. But in a rare example of an attack apparently motivated by malice rather than money, hackers recently bombarded the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site with hundreds of pictures and links to pages with rapidly flashing images. The breach triggered severe migraines and near-seizure reactions in some site visitors who viewed the images. People with photosensitive epilepsy can get seizures when they're exposed to flickering images, a response also caused by some video games and cartoons. The attack happened when hackers exploited a security hole in the foundation's publishing software that allowed them to quickly make numerous posts and overwhelm the site's support forums. Within the hackers' posts were small flashing pictures and links — masquerading as helpful — to pages that exploded with kaleidoscopic images pulsating with different colors. "They were out to create seizures," said Ken Lowenberg, senior director of Web and print publishing for the foundation. He said legitimate users are no longer able to post animated images to the support forum or create direct links to other sites, and it is now moderated around the clock. He said the FBI is investigating the breach. Security experts said the attack highlights the dangers of Web sites giving visitors great freedom to post content to different parts of the site. In another recent attack, hackers exploited a simple coding vulnerability in Sen. Barack Obama's Web site to redirect users visiting the community blogs section to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's official campaign site. The hackers who infiltrated the Epilepsy Foundation's site didn't appear to care about profit. The harmful pages didn't appear to try to push down code that would allow the hacker to gain control of the victims' computers, for instance. "I count this in the same category of teenagers who think it's funny to put a cat in a bag and throw it over a clothesline — they don't realize how cruel it is," said Paul Ferguson, a security researcher at antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc. "It was an opportunity waiting to happen for some mean-spirited kid." In a similar attack this year, a piece of malicious code was released that disabled software that reads text aloud from a computer screen for blind and visually impaired people. That attack appeared to have been designed to cripple the computers of people using illegal copies of the software, researchers said.
	Putting the sensual in non-consensual.

05-09-2008, 03:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
THEINCREDIBLEdork Emperor Meow Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9,353 Internets: 290966	about time someone taught those epileptic freaks a lesson.
	#YOLO

05-09-2008, 07:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Heaven Can Wait English. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 868 Internets: 179	Old, very old.
	there is little I wouldn't do for a dolphin.

05-09-2008, 07:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
vaga1220 * *Dislikes ham Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: HELL 666 Posts: 1,518 Internets: 60790	It happened Wednesday, that's not very old at all.
	Putting the sensual in non-consensual.

05-09-2008, 08:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Heaven Can Wait English. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 868 Internets: 179	No it didn't.. it was months ago http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...311322,00.html http://www.wired.com/politics/securi...08/03/epilepsy http://www.techradar.com/news/intern...website-290502
	there is little I wouldn't do for a dolphin. Last edited by Heaven Can Wait; 05-09-2008 at 09:16 AM.

05-09-2008, 09:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
vaga1220 * *Dislikes ham Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: HELL 666 Posts: 1,518 Internets: 60790	Clearly my info is dated. I'm going to fire my secretary for this embarrassment.
	Putting the sensual in non-consensual.

05-09-2008, 01:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mr. Blonde Spice Master Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,969 Internets: 284106	that's fucking hilarious.

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