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Semiconductor industry

Cybersecurity Threats and Emerging Trends in the New Economy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The US government is warning of a potential threat to the Internet, with tens of thousands of innocent computer systems turned into "zombies" that malicious hackers could use to cripple the network. Meanwhile, the market for personal computers, once a stronghold for chip-manufacturing giant Intel, is sagging, prompting the company to shift its focus towards consumer products. In related news, the International Olympic Committee has decided to allow limited online journalism coverage of the 2002 winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, while the tech industry is experiencing a downturn, with at least seven high-tech executives falling from billionaire status in 2000.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Security Council's Richard Clark believes that tens of thousands of computer systems may have been turned into "zombies" that could be used for malicious purposes, posing a significant threat to the Internet.
  • The February denial-of-service attacks, which hit sites such as CNN.com and Amazon.com, may have been launched from hundreds of compromised systems, but the problem may have gotten much worse in the last 11 months.
  • The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center believes that the explosion of zombies would allow for large-scale electronic assaults that would make previous attacks look "fairly minor".
  • Intel, once a leader in the PC market, is expected to shift its focus towards consumer products, including a portable music player and small hand-held devices for e-mail and wireless Internet surfing.
  • The International Olympic Committee has decided to allow limited online journalism coverage of the 2002 winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, but online journalists will not be allowed to broadcast audio or moving images from the events.
  • The tech industry is experiencing a downturn, with at least seven high-tech executives falling from billionaire status in 2000, and no tech executives rising to billionaire status for the first time.
  • The market for PCs is sagging, with Intel's sales potentially affected by the shift in focus towards consumer products.
  • Companies are clamping down on dogs in the workplace, as the tech industry grows and becomes more traditional.

Statistics:

  • Tens of thousands of computer systems may have been turned into "zombies" that could be used for malicious purposes.
  • The February denial-of-service attacks may have been launched from hundreds of compromised systems.
  • The number of phony college degrees available online is growing exponentially, with 481 listed in one online guide, up from 320 in 1998.
  • The Nasdaq market lost 37 percent of its value in 2000.
  • At least seven high-tech executives fell from billionaire status in 2000, while no tech executives rose to billionaire status for the first time.
  • Intel is expected to shift its focus towards consumer products, including a portable music player and small hand-held devices for e-mail and wireless Internet surfing.

Sources:

  • United Press International
  • Fort Worth Star-Telegram
  • Wall Street Journal
  • International Olympic Committee
  • Industry Standard magazine
  • San Jose Mercury News
  • United Press International (again)

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