Four words for anyone 'scared bitless' by Y2K viruses

Rob Rosenberger, Vmyths co-founder
Wednesday, 29 December 1999 INFORMATION SECURITY MAGAZINE publisher Peter Tippett broached the subject of Y2K viruses in his 12/99 editorial. He began:

There's been a lot of FUD and hoopla in the last two months about 'increased security threats' during the Y2K changeover. At ICSA.net, we are constantly asked to separate hype from reality. So...do we expect massive virus or hacker attacks related to the Y2K changeover? In a word: No. I'd leave it at that if it weren't for all the noise on this issue...

I've got four words for anyone scared bitless by Y2K viruses: "read Information Security magazine."

Tippett went on to explain why the hysteria doesn't impress him. His final comment: "electronic risk is getting worse, but there seems to be little relationship between these kinds of risk [mentioned in his editorial] and the Y2K changeover itself." You wouldn't know it by looking at companies, universities, and gov't agencies around the world. They're scared bitless by all the media hysteria surrounding Y2K viruses. Remember what I predicted two weeks ago? "This media circus will turn into a media fiasco like so many others before it." News outlets will want to crucify someone else for their own sins. Someone they believe deserves punishment anyway. (I predict mi2g.) It happened in 1992, you know. John McAfee burned at the stake for his and the media's role in the Michelangelo fiasco. Someone else will die — again — for the media's sins when this Y2K virus fiasco finally comes to light. Bring your marshmallows, folks.