Duck for cover! The Pentagon has been the victim of a cyber attack! The weapon in question is a hybrid computer worm rapidly spreading throughout the Pentagon’s thousands of interconnected defense computer networks. No worries, though. The Department of Defense has taken steps to slowing the worm’s advancement by quarantining networks and systems until its removal.

Though the entry point of the worm is unknown, inside sources have reason to believe that removable storage devices are to blame.As a result of this, the Defense Department has banned the use of external hardware devices throughout a vast network of military computers. Do we have an intruder in our midst or just an accident brought on by some friendly pornographic websites?

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Boing Boing Gadgets has an interesting write-up on how Blizzard’s World of Warcraft is being used as a tool for practicing terrorism on our home turf. In this case, a particular raid is modified to reflect an attack on the White House.

[T]wo World of Warcraft players discuss a raid on the “White Keep” inside the “Stonetalon Mountains.” The major objective is to set off a “Dragon Fire spell” inside, and make off with “110 Gold and 234 Silver” in treasure. “No one will dance there for a hundred years after this spell is cast,” one player, “war_monger,” crows.
Except, in this case, the White Keep is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. “Dragon Fire” is an unconventional weapon. And “110 Gold and 234 Silver” tells the plotters how to align the game’s map with one of Washington, D.C.

Seems kind of silly until you realize that it’s probably true and actually could be used to help promote terrorism. Hit the link for the full skinny on the terror plot the Pentagon uncovered.

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The Pentagon’s own DARPA has put out a call to the public for a design concept for a shape-shifting “chemical” robot that would be able to liquify and squeeze into small areas. This robot would have static dimensions that could be changed on command, much like the robot unit from Terminator 2. The militairy already uses robots in a variety of situations, but their size and material keeps them limited for use.

The robot DARPA wants would ideally be softball sized, and be able to shift its shape and collapse up to a tenth of its size and then back to its original size in less than 15 seconds. Proposals on paper are due by May 3, 2007 with the whole sha-bang due June 2. — Andrew Dobrow

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