Cyber Jihad in November!

Attackers would download Jihad 2.0 to their own desktops and specify the amount of bandwidth they would like to consume, not unlike the SETI@home software package used to scan for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.

Seriously.

Needless to say, nobody's really worried that a bunch of goat-smelling morons with 3-year-old software will actually inflict any harm. But they do have grand plans:

The attack was reported by DEBKAfile, an online military intelligence magazine. Citing anonymous "counter-terror sources," DEBKAfile said it had intercepted an "internet announcement" calling for a volunteer-run online attack against 15 targeted sites starting 11 November. The operation is supposed to expand after its launch date until "hundreds of thousands of Islamist hackers are in action against untold numbers of anti-Muslim sites," the magazine reported.

"Islamist hackers" just doesn't resonate, does it? Of course, I really get a kick out of their rhetoric and their huffing and puffing. It's pretty comical, but it sounds scary. But what if they really DO have a staff of l33t h@xors that will reign electronic death from the Internets? Let's hear from the experts:

Even if an attack is planned, it would likely be nothing new, Evron added. "Cyber jihad on the level of attacking websites happens every day for numerous causes by enthusiasts. The content of this warning is doubtful. There are not hundreds of thousands of infosec workers worldwide, not to mention working for al-Qaeda," he said.

Bingo. Unless your average Islamic warrior is smarter than the dumb-asses that run around grabbing hot rifle barrels and swinging from monkey bars in full carpetry, I'm not too concerned. But you gotta give 'em props for trying.

This is not the first time that the West has been threatened with cyber jihad.

In December 2006, the US Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) warned US banks and financial institutions of a possible al-Qaeda cyber attack.

That operation, nicknamed "the Electronic Battle of Guantanamo," turned out to be a dud.

and failing, of course.