Die Hard 4.0

The latest Die Hard movie is about a “massive computer attack on the U.S.” even the title Die Hard 4.0 is like a software program…version 4.0.

The thrilling film is about computer hackers, seeing the amount of technology that surrounds them and how fast they can negotiate around the World Wide Web etc is astounding. In the film the “terrorists” use their computers to change traffic signals at a tunnel, causing the lights at both ends to say use all lanes. Leading to a massive head on collisions for 4 lanes of traffic.

They are also using computers to track people, all the police cars have tracking devices on them, and the “good guys” are looking for a “digital fingerprint…there has to be one…FIND IT!!!” Throughout the film they track people through satellites and using the security cameras…all from the comfort of their base…. They appear to be able to control and track the world.

The film takes on the issue of Virtual Terrorism. One code and the whole world will come crashing down, most of the world’s technology could be controlled by remote, but some are manual.

Is Virtual Terrorism a real threat? Yes this is only a film, but could it have real merits? So much is digital these days and we need computers for everything, to change our traffic lights, (in the film all the lights were put on green at an intersection causing a mass crash), etc. The digital ‘wave’ that we are in…could it be taken over by a terrorist attack? Could the government’s secrets, finances and defence plans be lost in a moment, due to a virtual take over?

In the present day data, be it finances or information etc can be transferred in a microsecond. Just think if we were still in the days of pen and paper, everything would be filed in draws, there would be no backups, and terrorists would have to steal originals or copy out by hand details that they needed to steal. Granted films wouldn’t be as exciting if people were running around with bits of paper, stopping and copying something else on to it.

The technological advances are of course a blessing, how otherwise would I display my Blog? Short of writing it out and walking around with a sandwich board displaying my thoughts! I even need a code to get into my building….but what if there is a malfunction? How would I get in? That wouldn’t happen with a key! Technology is the future and we tend to accept it, but how open is it to attack? People already abuse the Internet, grooming children etc. Is it just a matter of time before Die Hard 4.0 becomes a reality?

Die Hard 4.0 picture is from google images: http://www.firstshowing.net/img/diehard4.0poster-big.jpg