Hackers' posts on epilepsy forum cause migraines, seizures - GoFuckYourself.com

uno · 05-08-2008, 06:33 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/...ndation_hacked

By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer Wed May 7, 7:29 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO - Computer attacks typically don't inflict physical pain on their victims.

But in a rare example of an attack apparently motivated by malice rather than money, hackers recently bombarded the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site with hundreds of pictures and links to pages with rapidly flashing images.

The breach triggered severe migraines and near-seizure reactions in some site visitors who viewed the images. People with photosensitive epilepsy can get seizures when they're exposed to flickering images, a response also caused by some video games and cartoons.

The attack happened when hackers exploited a security hole in the foundation's publishing software that allowed them to quickly make numerous posts and overwhelm the site's support forums.

Within the hackers' posts were small flashing pictures and links ? masquerading as helpful ? to pages that exploded with kaleidoscopic images pulsating with different colors.

"They were out to create seizures," said Ken Lowenberg, senior director of Web and print publishing for the foundation.

He said legitimate users are no longer able to post animated images to the support forum or create direct links to other sites, and it is now moderated around the clock. He said the FBI is investigating the breach.

Security experts said the attack highlights the dangers of Web sites giving visitors great freedom to post content to different parts of the site.

In another recent attack, hackers exploited a simple coding vulnerability in Sen. Barack Obama's Web site to redirect users visiting the community blogs section to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's official campaign site.

The hackers who infiltrated the Epilepsy Foundation's site didn't appear to care about profit. The harmful pages didn't appear to try to push down code that would allow the hacker to gain control of the victims' computers, for instance.

"I count this in the same category of teenagers who think it's funny to put a cat in a bag and throw it over a clothesline ? they don't realize how cruel it is," said Paul Ferguson, a security researcher at antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc. "It was an opportunity waiting to happen for some mean-spirited kid."

In a similar attack this year, a piece of malicious code was released that disabled software that reads text aloud from a computer screen for blind and visually impaired people. That attack appeared to have been designed to cripple the computers of people using illegal copies of the software, researchers said.

Phoenix · 05-08-2008, 06:34 PM

didnt they do this before recently as well

LiveDose · 05-08-2008, 06:36 PM

This thread just reminded me how many complete losers stink up this planet.

Doctor Dre · 05-08-2008, 06:42 PM

I actually find that pretty amusing... lol

I would never do that to somebody, but the thought of it is funny...

Tat2Jr · 05-08-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

I actually find that pretty amusing... lol

That was exactly the OPPOSITE thing I was thinking while reading that. Let's hope you don't get some fucked up disease and have people find it amusing to physically screw with you.... or on the other hand.... we could hope a little.

Spunky · 05-08-2008, 07:05 PM

That is pretty cruel but hackers have no soul

StuBradley · 05-08-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

I actually find that pretty amusing... lol

What the fuck is wrong with you dude? Seriously?

wanted · 05-08-2008, 10:07 PM

shit this is really mad..

GrouchyAdmin · 05-08-2008, 10:08 PM

Old news, and really, really just dickheaded.

Angry Jew Cat - Banned for Life · 05-08-2008, 10:12 PM

Sounds like hackers on steroids...

MBS Auto · 05-08-2008, 10:22 PM

Lamo...........

mozadek · 05-08-2008, 11:28 PM

old news, funny as hell.

robfantasy · 05-08-2008, 11:37 PM

that is fucked up

donkevlar · 05-09-2008, 12:39 AM

They should have just used the "hypnotizing conversions" banner at the top that just made me nauseous.

NinjaSteve · 05-09-2008, 12:42 AM

What a dick. The end.

JamesK · 05-09-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Dre

I actually find that pretty amusing... lol

I would never do that to somebody, but the thought of it is funny...

Only idiots would think that's amusing.

donkevlar · 05-09-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesK

Only idiots would think that's amusing.

I told the story in a room full of brilliant poets, brain surgeons and rocket scientists and the room erupted in laughter.

It was a bad thing to do, but there are so many worse things in the world that have no funny factor and get joked about daily but no one gave a shit then. AIDS, Cancer, Dead Baby jokes.

Don't tell me if you saw that in a movie or an episode of south park you wouldn't laugh?

Everyone thhhtop being thooo thenssistive!

farkedup · 05-09-2008, 01:15 PM

I must admit my first reaction was LMAO

You guys do realize that for people like this to have any real problems they have to stare at the object for a solid 10 seconds right? if the dumbasses saw shit swirling and moving like crazy they should have and could have looked away...

I guess they were like bugs in a bug zapper.... its so pretty....

CyberHustler · 05-09-2008, 01:22 PM

CIVMatt · 05-09-2008, 01:29 PM

lol sorry I laughed..

Really? I doubt anything would happen with a bunch of people already used to looking at 60Hz monitors...

CIVMatt · 05-09-2008, 01:30 PM

05-08-2008, 06:33 PM	#1
uno RIP Dodger. BEST.CAT.EVER Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Area Posts: 18,450	Hackers' posts on epilepsy forum cause migraines, seizures http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080507/...ndation_hacked By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer Wed May 7, 7:29 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO - Computer attacks typically don't inflict physical pain on their victims. But in a rare example of an attack apparently motivated by malice rather than money, hackers recently bombarded the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site with hundreds of pictures and links to pages with rapidly flashing images. The breach triggered severe migraines and near-seizure reactions in some site visitors who viewed the images. People with photosensitive epilepsy can get seizures when they're exposed to flickering images, a response also caused by some video games and cartoons. The attack happened when hackers exploited a security hole in the foundation's publishing software that allowed them to quickly make numerous posts and overwhelm the site's support forums. Within the hackers' posts were small flashing pictures and links ? masquerading as helpful ? to pages that exploded with kaleidoscopic images pulsating with different colors. "They were out to create seizures," said Ken Lowenberg, senior director of Web and print publishing for the foundation. He said legitimate users are no longer able to post animated images to the support forum or create direct links to other sites, and it is now moderated around the clock. He said the FBI is investigating the breach. Security experts said the attack highlights the dangers of Web sites giving visitors great freedom to post content to different parts of the site. In another recent attack, hackers exploited a simple coding vulnerability in Sen. Barack Obama's Web site to redirect users visiting the community blogs section to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's official campaign site. The hackers who infiltrated the Epilepsy Foundation's site didn't appear to care about profit. The harmful pages didn't appear to try to push down code that would allow the hacker to gain control of the victims' computers, for instance. "I count this in the same category of teenagers who think it's funny to put a cat in a bag and throw it over a clothesline ? they don't realize how cruel it is," said Paul Ferguson, a security researcher at antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc. "It was an opportunity waiting to happen for some mean-spirited kid." In a similar attack this year, a piece of malicious code was released that disabled software that reads text aloud from a computer screen for blind and visually impaired people. That attack appeared to have been designed to cripple the computers of people using illegal copies of the software, researchers said. __________________ -uno icq: 111-914 CrazyBabe.com - porn art MojoHost - For all your hosting needs, present and future. Tell them I sent ya!

05-08-2008, 06:34 PM	#2
Phoenix BACON BACON BACON Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poems everybody, the laddie fancies himself a poet Posts: 35,462	didnt they do this before recently as well __________________ Skype Phoenixskype1 Telegram PhoenixBrad https://quantads.io

05-08-2008, 06:36 PM	#3
LiveDose Show Yer Tits! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere Out there... Posts: 25,792	This thread just reminded me how many complete losers stink up this planet. __________________ Scammer Alert: acer19 acer [email protected] [email protected] Money stolen using PayPal

05-08-2008, 07:05 PM	#6
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,943	That is pretty cruel but hackers have no soul __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

05-08-2008, 10:07 PM	#8
wanted Certified Asshole Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In front of my laptop. Posts: 896	shit this is really mad.. __________________ Living the dream.

05-08-2008, 10:08 PM	#9
GrouchyAdmin Now choke yourself! Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,085	Old news, and really, really just dickheaded. __________________ AIM: GrouchyGfy

05-08-2008, 10:12 PM	#10
Angry Jew Cat - Banned for Life (felis madjewicus) Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In Mom & Dad's Basement Posts: 20,368	Sounds like hackers on steroids...

05-08-2008, 10:22 PM	#11
MBS Auto Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sin City Baby... Posts: 1,725	Lamo........... __________________ Shoes and Boot

05-08-2008, 11:28 PM	#12
mozadek Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,325	old news, funny as hell.

05-08-2008, 11:37 PM	#13
robfantasy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Medellin, Colombia Posts: 6,445	that is fucked up __________________ Looking to speak w/ high volume nutra CPA affiliates or networks... msg me

05-09-2008, 12:39 AM	#14
donkevlar Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,325	They should have just used the "hypnotizing conversions" banner at the top that just made me nauseous. __________________ [email protected]

05-09-2008, 12:42 AM	#15
NinjaSteve Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 11,089	What a dick. The end. __________________ ...

05-09-2008, 01:15 PM	#18
farkedup Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 2,490	I must admit my first reaction was LMAO You guys do realize that for people like this to have any real problems they have to stare at the object for a solid 10 seconds right? if the dumbasses saw shit swirling and moving like crazy they should have and could have looked away... I guess they were like bugs in a bug zapper.... its so pretty.... __________________ -- QUOTE ME IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL --

05-09-2008, 01:22 PM	#19
CyberHustler Masterbaiter Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 26,179	Win

05-09-2008, 01:29 PM	#20
CIVMatt Amateur Pimpin Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 13,075	lol sorry I laughed.. Really? I doubt anything would happen with a bunch of people already used to looking at 60Hz monitors... __________________ Make easy money with Webcams

05-09-2008, 01:30 PM	#21
CIVMatt Amateur Pimpin Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 13,075	__________________ Make easy money with Webcams