Cyber Attack causing Gridlock in US Airports

Wow! Still using floppies! 

I rely on backups for everything. All software I use is either freeware or bought, not rented like Windows 365. I keep hard drives rather than relying on the cloud, although I recently acquired some cloud memory as part of a package bought for other reasons and I do use it as a third backup (as my hadrdrives back each other up). I recently discarded and old laptop and removed the hard drive before doing so - stuffed it in an enclosure (an external case) and use it as a very mobile backup I can sip into my bag with my new laptop. Which reminds me - I really need to encrypt it. Must load that free opensource encryption software so I don't rely on Microsoft.

Although the gridlock in US airports wasn’t caused by cybercrime, perhaps this is a timely warning of the need to reduce our reliance on technologies that can be hit by failures caused of whatever source. Given that the floppy disk is an integral part of some systems in the US, maybe they will be our future.

The BBC News site states: 

The announcement, which was met with mockery by many, was that floppy disks will be phased out at US aviation authority facilities by the end of 2028.

The standard 3.5-inch (8.9cm) floppy disk, first released in the early 1980s, is often held up as a symbol of outdated technology.

Two years ago, San Francisco’s train network was ridiculed for still using the disks to load the software needed to run its servers each morning.

And, as of last year, some airlines were still using 3.5-inch floppy disks to update navigation databases for Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

Perhaps most alarmingly, the US Department of Defense announced in 2019 that America’s nuclear arsenal would no longer rely on a system that uses eight-inch floppy disks.

But many tech experts say we shouldn’t be so hard on floppy disk fans: older technology that doesn’t rely on an internet connection can be more secure.

In an age of increasing cybercrime and hacking, perhaps the future is looking more floppy?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6z9dwn12037t

It seems to have been caused by years of underfunding. In Europe, air traffic control systems are paid for by the airlines that depend on them, but in the USA it was is government (under)funded.

But with both local national and international instances of it issues this week alone it makes me wonder if this is going to become more common

Yep and cutting off digital TV so when the internet goes down now tv for even nees updates plus online tv shives the bred in your face too on home screens 

They say peoplle who think like use Ned to live in 2026 blah blah... Erm I was an early adoptee of smart phones I saw potential but when my iphone broke I went back to a normal phone and it took me 6 years to get a smart phone again and I have never enjoyed them much because they're built off getting you hooked and with autism and adhd thay can be a real issue 

Also I love my ps5 but if ps6 was disc only with no online and smaller games id prefer it in soemways 

Call me cynical, but Trump's government asking Congress for money just before this happened, saying they need to update old systems ... I wouldn't put anything past that guy

I totaly get that Thpsguy, I worry too. I try not to because really, what can we do about it? I just find it daft that the government are switching off analogue landlaines in January 2027. They work in a powercut! 

It was NOT a cyber attack! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx2wyvyr3zzo It happened when they tried to update the system.

I think we need to rely less on the internet it cause so many bad possibilities it needs to supliment things nit replace them because I often worry we are one cyber attack away from s global crisis and it causes me anxiety