Epilepsy Talk
Epilepsy Foundation Was Targeted in Mass Strobe Cyberattack | December 17, 2019
Hackers sent videos and images of flashing strobe lights to thousands of Twitter followers of the Epilepsy Foundation last month in a mass cyberattack that apparently sought to trigger seizures in those with epilepsy, the foundation said on Monday.
The series of online attacks was particularly reprehensible, it said in a statement, because it took place during National Epilepsy Awareness Month.
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It occurred in November and it is only now reported? I do not understand why anyone would want to inflict harm on any group of people let alone epileptics.
And of course you can buy high intensity strobe lights for so called self defense. Self defense against epileptics?
Incidentally the link required me to have a subscription to the NYT but the following link does not.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hackers-epilepsy-strobe-cyberattack-seizures-videos-kurt-eichenwald-a9249856.html
MICHAEL
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Comment by Michael H — December 17, 2019 @ 12:19 PM
Great. Thanks for the link, Michael. It reports exactly what the NYT says, just in a more accessible manner.
Sorry to post an article you needed a subscription to!
And yes, where ever you read it, the information is cruel. But as you say? Why now? AFTER the fact?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 17, 2019 @ 12:32 PM
I tried to find an old link to it but couldn’t, but some years back the Epilepsy Society in the UK had a forum board attached to it and it got hacked/spammed with innocent looking links that opened to strobes. From what I remember there was at least one person affected. So this isn’t a new thing. Some people are just seriously horrible.
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Comment by Katie — December 17, 2019 @ 1:17 PM
I’m sure of both. But it doesn’t often get publicized.
Does anybody care? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 17, 2019 @ 1:27 PM
In todays world we need to be extra careful and safe. Hackers and Bully’s and destroyers are all over. Shoot to kill, Strobe lite epilepsy sites, attack synogogues, beat up fraternity people who don’t agree with your lifestyle. etc. Hard to get along in this world. shoot people on the bridge in London. Kill a student in central park. All the same…should lock up the perps and through away the key until they learn how to belong to our society. Not so bad. work, make a living, have friends, travel. save, retire to Arizona or wherever, and protect and enjoy your family even with Epilepsy.
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Comment by Joel Mason — December 17, 2019 @ 2:11 PM
A good and noble goal, Joel.
But these people do exist and must be dealt with in some way.
Throw away the key?
The question is HOW?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 17, 2019 @ 2:26 PM
The expression WTF has gotten massively overused lately but this is a genuine WTF moment. What goes on in someone’s mind who would do such a thing?
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Comment by paleobird — December 17, 2019 @ 3:12 PM
WTF do I know? 😦
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 17, 2019 @ 4:17 PM
Thankfully I didn’t receive one. But why? Why would anyone do such a thing?!
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Comment by Michelle's Musings — December 17, 2019 @ 6:07 PM
Malice, ignorance, or maybe just for laughs. 😦
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 17, 2019 @ 8:30 PM
Well, I hope they are charged, and not just with hacking. Assault with intent to harm would be a start, and for each person affected.
What kind of person would do such a thing?
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Comment by Marlyn — December 17, 2019 @ 10:53 PM
I think with continued education and advocacy, things have a chance of changing.
But, it’s a long, hard haul.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 18, 2019 @ 9:29 AM
I hope they get prison
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Comment by Terry & Judy Fields — December 17, 2019 @ 11:37 PM
Doubtful, but wouldn’t it be nice if, at least, they were punished.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 18, 2019 @ 9:32 AM
There are ways to find the perpetrators, just by the ip address they can find what provider gives out that ip and go after them. More than likely it’s low on the radar for criminal activity. None the less these are your lowest of low types, the type that will kick u when u r already down. These people need there necks squeezed until there eye pop out. Sorry, but that is the way i feel.
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Comment by Zolt — December 18, 2019 @ 11:53 AM
Thanks for the tip, Zolt.
And yes, it would be generous punishment to have their necks squeezed, until their eyes pop out!
How about a little status epilepticus?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 18, 2019 @ 1:43 PM
I am having trouble believing people are so cruel.
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Comment by Flower Roberts — December 19, 2019 @ 3:25 PM
But they are now days but never know who, The world nowdays is big difference from in the 50 and 60 and 70’s Now days people will drop something in your glass if not watching, I’m thankful born in the 50″s
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Comment by Terry & Judy Fields — December 19, 2019 @ 9:53 PM
I WAS born in 1953. When were YOU born?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 19, 2019 @ 10:01 PM
I was born in 1951 were it was more safer and trust and people cared and I am so thankful for that to
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Comment by Terry & Judy Fields — December 19, 2019 @ 10:32 PM
Safer in the old days? Well now, that depends…..I was born in the 1940’s in the East End of London and German bombs were dropping! We did not have strobe lights but we had anti aircraft guns booming, Anderson shelters and gas masks! The only anti epileptic drugs were Phenytoin and Phenobarbital and neurology was in its infancy. I confess that I for one do not miss “the the good old days!”
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Comment by Michael H — December 20, 2019 @ 2:15 AM
Well, your “good old days” sound far from “safe”. In fact they sound like a living nightmare.
Phenytoin and Phenobarbital were also the only meds available in the 50s and 60s.
It was a matter of pick your poison.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 20, 2019 @ 9:35 AM
I understand that in Britain there are already laws in the works to criminalize this kind of behavior. We can only hope other countries will follow suit.
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Comment by HoDo — December 23, 2019 @ 11:22 AM
I guess the U.K. is way ahead of us in another way.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 23, 2019 @ 6:02 PM
I consider this a hate crime.
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Comment by Hector J Santos — January 8, 2020 @ 7:30 PM