Computer Warfare

Estonia, a former Soviet state and current bastion of capitalism in Eastern Europe (and a place a might actually like to visit), is under attack by its former master:

TALLINN, Estonia, May 18 — This small Baltic country, one of the most wired societies in Europe, has been subject in recent weeks to massive and coordinated cyber attacks on Web sites of the government, banks, telecommunications companies, Internet service providers and news organizations, according to Estonian and foreign officials here.

Computer security specialists here call it an unprecedented assault on the public and private electronic infrastructure of a state. They say it is originating in Russia, which is angry over Estonia's recent relocation of a Soviet war memorial. Russian officials deny any government involvement.

Obviously, I believe the Estonians and not the Russians. This is the first large-scale government-sponsored (did I mention I don't trust Russia?) internet attack that I'm aware of. Is this really the first, or have there been others?

Expect more of this, worldwide, and expect it to become increasingly difficult to finger the perpetrators. It will take time for networks and computer systems to be made resilient against such attacks.