Vandalism on online epilepsy forum triggers convulsions: Difference between revisions

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{{date|April 2, 2008}}
{{date|April 2, 2008}}
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{{cleanup|No external links/references in article body. Article reads like the group 'Anonymous' did this which is not true.}}
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The non-profit Epilepsy Foundation[http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/] runs a forum which is frequented by epilepsy patients enjoying the friendship and understanding of like-minded people. This harmony was destroyed last week by a hacker attack on the forum. The attack, first reported by Wired News[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2008/03/epilepsy], exploited a function of the forums to post JavaScript code. The code injected by hackers flashed two images repeatedly and tried to lead users off to external websites showing flashing lights and shapes intended to trigger off epileptic fits. The Epilepsy Foundation had to shut down the forums and took some measures to prevent future attacks.
The non-profit Epilepsy Foundation[http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/] runs a forum which is frequented by epilepsy patients enjoying the friendship and understanding of like-minded people. This harmony was destroyed last week by a hacker attack on the forum. The attack, first reported by Wired News[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2008/03/epilepsy], exploited a function of the forums to post JavaScript code. The code injected by hackers flashed two images repeatedly and tried to lead users off to external websites showing flashing lights and shapes intended to trigger off epileptic fits. The Epilepsy Foundation had to shut down the forums and took some measures to prevent future attacks.

Revision as of 18:34, 2 April 2008

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

The following reason for editorial cleanup has been cited: No external links/references in article body. Article reads like the group 'Anonymous' did this which is not true. That means a contributor considers this article not publishable in its current form. Please help improve this article. If, after changing the article, you believe you have addressed the concerns listed, then you may remove this tag.

Contributor concerns:

No external links/references in article body. Article reads like the group 'Anonymous' did this which is not true.

Please help improve this article. Once the concerns have been addressed, you may remove this tag.


The non-profit Epilepsy Foundation[1] runs a forum which is frequented by epilepsy patients enjoying the friendship and understanding of like-minded people. This harmony was destroyed last week by a hacker attack on the forum. The attack, first reported by Wired News[2], exploited a function of the forums to post JavaScript code. The code injected by hackers flashed two images repeatedly and tried to lead users off to external websites showing flashing lights and shapes intended to trigger off epileptic fits. The Epilepsy Foundation had to shut down the forums and took some measures to prevent future attacks.

Several epilepsy patients experienced seizures and migraines

In a press release the Foundation stated that several epilepsy patients experienced harsh migraines and seizures as a result of the attack. One lady, RyAnne Fultz, was paralyzed by the flashing images in what she calls her worst attack in over a year, until her 11-year old son managed to get her to stop looking at the screen and disable the browser.

Wired News additionally reports that there is "circumstantial evidence" linking the perpetrators of the attack to the loose-knit anti-Scientology collective, Anonymous. Following critical reports about the attack alleged members of the group tried to blame the attack on the Church of Scientology.

Internet: a killer instrument?

First computer attack in history to inflict physical harm

Wired states that the assault may have been the first computer attack in history to inflict physical harm on its victims.

Between three and five per cent of all epilepsy sufferers are vulnerable to seizures triggered by flashing lights, shapes or colours, like ones used in the attack. Photosensitive epilepsy has been in the news increasingly over the last few years because it has triggered seizures in people in newsworthy ways, including recently when a logo animation for the 2012 Olympics in Britain caused thousands of people to experience seizures and, previously, when an episode of an animated TV series caused thousands of children to experience seizures in Japan.


Sources


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