Phlip

Hackers try to cause seizures on epilepsy site
Web forum bombarded with links to pages with rapidly flashing images

By Jordan Robertson

updated 7:48 p.m. ET, Wed., May. 7, 2008

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.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24510864...5829?GT1=40006

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jspaeth

hahahahahahahahaha funny/mean

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Daily driven

Phlip

Yeah, I would have felt bad for laughing if I had a conscience

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exitspeed

Yea, I feel bad that I instantly LOL'd at the title.

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s14_legend

just made me think about the simpsons episode where the simpsons go to japan and that anime show pops up on the tv with flashing images

"MR. SPARKLE"

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murda-c

Reminds me of the episode of pokemon that cause seizures in japan and was banned from tv.

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just1pepsi

Reminds me of how this type of prank is considered terrorism under the Patriot Act.. When they catch whoever did that, I hope he or she enjoys his or her stay in Guantanamo Bay. Still funny though, seems like Epileptics would have a hard time w/ the internet anyway.. just about every stupid banner add has crazy flashing brightly colored crap in it.

S14DB

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just1pepsi

wow that is sick.

DUFFM4N

thanx for the idea for the new avatar

+

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azndoc

Whoa that pic is trippy.

It's too early in the morning for this kind of shit.

But yeah that hacker thing is pretty fucked up.

DOOK

I think it's amusing... but the fact that it was done on an Epilepsy message board cause get the hacker some jail time for attempted murder in actuality...

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s14_legend

hah no problem man... "MR SPARKLE" - i need to get the sticker for the ride

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DUFFM4N

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Simpsons-Sparkle-Looking-Japanese-Sticker/dp/B000V9CBWU[/ame]



*edit...ooooo fancy amazon hotlink...me rikey

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s14_legend

sweet, hah are you scooping one up....

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Farzam

Hahaha fuckin hilarious!

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TiNMAN

thats pretty F'in good.

but sorta mean.

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ALEXTHESUS*PECT

you guys know it was brian, BH, on here. look at his avatar.

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