30 March 2012
Expert comment on internet blackouts
RMIT University's Dr Mark Gregory is available for interview on web blackouts.
About 10,000 Australian internet users are among four million around the world facing an internet blackout from 9 July because of malicious software that infected their computers without their knowledge.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has urged internet users to check if they were infected, with a new website dns-ok.gov.au detailing how web users can check their computer for the malicious software and remove it.
The news comes a day before hacktivist group Anonymous has declared it will blackout the Internet (on 31 March) by attacking 13 root servers, though some have questioned whether the threat is an early April Fool’s joke.
- What does the July 9 internet blackout – being enforced by the FBI – mean for web users?
- What action do people need to take to protect their computers from malware?
- How credible is the threat from Anonymous to take down the internet?
- What can be done about blackouts and what are the authorities doing?
RMIT’s Dr Mark Gregory is an expert in internet security.
Dr Gregory is a Senior Lecturer in Network Engineering at RMIT’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
He is available for comment on the issues related to internet blackouts attacks and cyber security.
For interviews: RMIT University's Dr Mark Gregory, 0418 999 089 or (03) 9925 3243.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University, Marketing and Communications, Gosia Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
