The Epileptics Forum Attack

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March 31, 2008
Now that's a weird example of a successful targeted attack abusing epileptics' photo sensitivity. Hackers post seizure causing flashing images at an Epileptics forum :

"Internet griefers descended on an epilepsy support message board last weekend and used JavaScript code and flashing computer animation to trigger migraine headaches and seizures in some users. The nonprofit Epilepsy Foundation, which runs the forum, briefly closed the site Sunday to purge the offending messages and to boost security. The incident, possibly the first computer attack to inflict physical harm on the victims, began Saturday, March 22, when attackers used a script to post hundreds of messages embedded with flashing animated gifs."

Mentioning the attack would mean nothing if I'm not to provide screenshots of the forum postings courtesy of user Pedrobear, and the actual seizure image used, which in the case of this attack was pics.ohlawd.net/img/seizure.gif. And if you think seizure.gif is mean, optical illusions such as this one can cause the same effects to everyone if you're to stare at it for more than five seconds.

About Dancho Danchev

Independent Security Consultancy, Threat Intelligence Analysis (OSINT/Cyber Counter Intelligence) and Competitive Intelligence research on demand. Insightful, unbiased, and client-tailored assessments, neatly communicated in the form of interactive reports - because anticipating the emerging threatscape is what shapes the big picture at the end of the day. Approach me at dancho.danchev@hush.com

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