Reuters: Power Outage Not Internet Worm-Related

["Jason Sloderbeck" <ops-lists () positivenetworks net>]

> From the wire...

Power Outage Not Internet Worm-Related (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=3281792

The interesting thing about this article is that it is merely speculation by CERT and SANS, along with a tangent about 
how AT&T's network stayed up during the power outage. Regardless of the likelihood of the worm being a factor, does it 
really surprise anyone that CERT and SANS have no evidence indicating anything related to the worm causing the power 
outage? Just because the AP doesn't have a source at any power plant in the northeast who could confirm that the worm 
didn't seem to be related doesn't excuse them from publishing these insignificant quotes.

SANS guesses (like 50 other people on Full-Disclosure):

"it is 'highly unlikely' that the process control computers behind critical infrastructure like power in the United 
States would run on the Windows operating system."

CERT confirms that it has no idea about what happened:

"There is no information available at this time to indicate that the power outages ... are related to intruder activity"

Tomorrow, Reuters will be releasing comments from CERT and SANS confirming that there is no information available at 
this time that indicates that Col. Sanders was responsible for the assassination of JFK along with 5 paragraphs about 
the quality of KFC popcorn chicken. Stay tuned!

-Jason


--
Jason Sloderbeck
Positive Networks
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