Idealogian

Tiger Treats

Internet Technology Vulnerable to Hackers

Researchers uncovered a serious flaw in the underlying technology for nearly all Internet traffic, a discovery that led to an urgent and secretive international effort to prevent global disruptions of Web surfing, e-mails and instant messages.

. . .

The risk was similar to Internet users "running naked through the jungle, which didn't matter until somebody released some tigers,'' said Paul Vixie of the Internet Systems Consortium Inc.

"It's a significant risk,'' Vixie said. "The larger Internet providers are jumping on this big time. It's really important this just gets fixed before the bad guys start exploiting it for fun and recognition.''

Is there something about naked people that makes them particularly vulnerable to tiger attacks? Or is the New York Times publishing gratuitous references to nudity?