Technology Focus: Cyber Threats Outrun Y2K Challenges, Disaster Scenarios

February 12, 2012

Turn the clock back 13 years to 1999. Seek out the Chief Information Officer of any large business. What was the big worry? Y2K.

Remember Y2K, shorthand for the millennium shift.the fear that as the clock struck midnight for Jan. 1, 2000, planes would fall out of the sky and power plants would explode?

Remember that nothing of the sort happened? For years before, though, technologists prepared. Software experts worked on bug fixes. Millions of PCs and servers were chucked. Utilities, airlines and railroads all made sure their systems were ready.

Now come back to 2012: consider cyberattacks, hacking and computerized warfare. Look at how much more Internet access is available worldwide and the proliferation of electronic devices, especially smartphones. Last year, nearly 480 million of them were sold, estimates IHS iSuppli. Read more.