[MeganC]

Here’s an interesting thought:

What happens when a cyber attack eventually takes the entire internet offline?

Imagine no email, no social media, no ATMs, no way to buy anything with a debit card or credit card...etc.

What then?

Just my two cents but we’ve made ourselves too dependent on this technology.

[RayChuang88]

The cyberattack that could take the entire Internet offline is a direct attack on a major Internet backbone provider. Imagine if someone could take down Level 3 Communications, who provides Internet backbone connections to much of the developed world; such an attack would essentially shut down all the major web sites around the world.

[thoughtomator]

> What happens when a cyber attack eventually takes the entire internet offline?

The Internet is designed to withstand a nuclear war - while it won’t function optimally it will still function even in the event of catastrophic damage.

[meadsjn]

That will be the zombie apocalypse.

[themidnightskulker]

what if this is just a probe for an uncontrolled AI?

[wku man]

"Just my two cents but we’ve made ourselves too dependent on this technology."

Okay, my nerd side comes out.

Anyone who watched the 2003ish version of Battlestar Galactica remembers how an integral part of the story was how the Cylons used cyber attacks to take out the Colonial fleet and the Colonial defense grid. All were shut down except for the Galactica, whose CO, Commander Adama, refused to network the ship or any of its Viper fighters or Raptor utility aircraft. Everything was hardwired, to include intra-ship communications. Therefore, it was the only carrier (Battlestar) still operating after the attack. Until the Pegasus showed up, but that's another, geekier conversation.

I too, believe we've become too dependent on technology and modern conveniences. I would like to think hospitals, fire departments, and police stations are ready to deal with cyber attacks, but then again, I read One Second After. Granted, that dealt with an EMP attack on our power grid, but the same principle applies. It was also fiction, but it gets one to thinking...modern electronic convenience is cool, but we'd better damn well have an old school backup plan for everything.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[pas]

You just unplug it and replug it.

[Flatus I. Maximus]

> What happens when a cyber attack eventually takes the entire internet offline?

Then — My God! — it will be like the 1970s all over again, and I, with my manual typewriter and my trusty slide rule, will rule the world!

[eXe]

Yup, that is why you keep cash, at home, in a safe, in smaller bills.. just for that kind of thing.

We lost a main power line here back in 07, Power was down for around 2 days, some areas just a day. People were freaking out because it took down the ATMs and no one could check out or shop at all. Cash is and always will be king.

[eXe]

Yup, that is why you keep cash, at home, in a safe, in smaller bills.. just for that kind of thing.

We lost a main power line here back in 07, Power was down for around 2 days, some areas just a day. People were freaking out because it took down the ATMs and no one could check out or shop at all. Cash is and always will be king.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I have said for the longest time, all it takes to halt all communication in America is to shut down the internet and all cell towers. Poof. We cannot communicate with each other. I still have a land line and could contact others with a landline, but we are going the way of the dinosaur.

It is amazing how easy it would be to instantaneously halt all communication between us if the government so desired.