Topic: Cyber Terrorism

A 1987 study by researcher Paul Slovic explores how the American public perceives risk, focusing on "unfamiliar systems" like nuclear energy or DNA labs. The research suggests that small accidents in these systems create immense social disturbance because they signal catastrophic potential. This psychological framework is used by governments to manufacture crises, such as cyber terrorism or Y2K, to drive policy.

Adam Curry recounts a personal ordeal attempting to wire $500 to his daughter in the Netherlands via Chase Bank. The transfer was flagged and rejected by the "wire department" for "suspected terrorist activity" because of the Dutch word "overbooking" (meaning transfer) in the memo. He notes that several Dutch banks are simultaneously claiming to be under cyber attack, which he suspects is a cover for systemic issues.

A document reveals a planned "Continuity of Operations" (COOP) exercise in downtown Chicago scheduled for January 16, 2013. The drill, involving FEMA and the Federal Executive Board, simulates a cyber terrorism attack resulting in limited communications. The hosts advise listeners to be vigilant on that date, noting that real-world events often coincide with such drills.

John C. Dvorak discusses his PC Magazine column regarding the improbability of "mud hut" terrorists in Waziristan launching sophisticated cyber attacks. The hosts point out the contradiction in government claims about Iran's cyber capabilities versus their internal internet restrictions.

The Indian government is investigating a "cyber terrorism" campaign where morphed photos of violence in Myanmar were circulated via SMS to trigger panic in Assam. Over 60 million text messages were sent in a single day, leading to a mass exodus of people from Bangalore and other cities. Authorities have traced the messages to radical outfits in South India and Bangladesh, describing it as a coordinated cyber war.

The hosts mock Fox & Friends for their coverage of Anwar al-Awlaki, specifically the description of him as a "cyber master." They deconstruct the narrative linking al-Awlaki to the 9/11 hijackers of Flight 77 and various "homegrown" terror plots. They argue the media is casting al-Awlaki as a "mastermind" to justify the drone program.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference attacking the "doctrine of state multiculturalism" and calling for "muscular liberalism." He announced increased investment in national cyber security and warned of threats from homegrown terrorists and anarchists across Europe. The hosts interpret this as a move toward a total lockdown of free speech and increased surveillance in the EU.

The hosts suggest that the threat of cyber-terrorism will be used as a pretext to funnel money into a "smart grid" and mandate specialized routers for home users. They compare this potential move to the recent digital television transition, viewing it as a way for the government to increase control over private communications.