Hackers Target Epilepsy Patients

[Miranda]

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.

"We are seeing people affected," says Ken Lowenberg, senior director of web and print publishing at the Epilepsy Foundation. "It's fortunately only a handful. It's possible that people are just not reporting yet -- people affected by it may not be coming back to the forum so fast."

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.

The attackers turned to a more effective tactic on Sunday, injecting JavaScript into some posts that redirected users' browsers to a page with a more complex image designed to trigger seizures in both photosensitive and pattern-sensitive epileptics.

RyAnne Fultz, a 33-year-old woman who suffers from pattern-sensitive epilepsy, says she clicked on a forum post with a legitimate-sounding title on Sunday. Her browser window resized to fill her screen, which was then taken over by a pattern of squares rapidly flashing in different colors.

Fultz says she "locked up."

"I don't fall over and convulse, but it hurts," says Fultz, an IT worker in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. "I was on the phone when it happened, and I couldn't move and couldn't speak."

After about 10 seconds, Fultz's 11-year-old son came over and drew her gaze away from the computer, then killed the browser process, she says.

"Everyone who logged on, it affected to some extent, whether by causing headaches or seizures," says Browen Mead, a 24-year-old epilepsy patient in Maine who says she suffered a daylong migraine after examining several of the offending posts. She'd lingered too long on the pages trying to determine who was responsible.

Circumstantial evidence suggests the attack was the work of members of Anonymous, an informal collective of griefers best known for their recent war on the Church of Scientology. The first flurry of posts on the epilepsy forum referenced the site EBaumsWorld, which is much hated by Anonymous. And forum members claim they found a message board thread -- since deleted -- planning the attack at 7chan.org, a group stronghold.

Fultz says the attack spawned an uncommonly bad seizure. "It was a spike of pain in my head," she says. "And the lockup, that only happens with really bad ones. I don't think I've had a seizure like that in about a year."

But she's satisfied with the Epilepsy Foundation's relatively fast response to the attack, about 12 hours after it began on Easter weekend. "We all really appreciate them for giving us this forum and giving us this place to find each other," she says.

Epilepsy affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, about 3 percent of whom are photosensitive, meaning flashing lights and colors can trigger seizures.

Link To Article

[Burrich1]

Now I absolutely don't condone this in any way, shape, or form, but I am definitely going to hell because reading that made me laugh out loud.

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.

[wingdazrael]

That's really sick. Its scary and sad to think that people have nothing better to do than screw with other's lives and well being in this way. Someone could have died because of that stupid shit. *I would put a long line of swear words here but, I don't want to offend anyone* I'm epileptic. Photosensitive.

[Pandora]

Expletive Expletive Expletive.

That is horrendous. Why in the hell would anyone want to target epileptics?? I hope the hackers are found and severely punished. They could have killed someone by causing a seizure so bad someone fell and hit their head on something, choked on food, several things.

Unbelievable. Whenever I'm sure I've heard the worst sort of depravity out there, something new comes along.

[Onyx]

Now I absolutely don't condone this in any way, shape, or form, but I am definitely going to hell because reading that made me laugh out loud.

Hmm.

Normally I try not to let stupid net tricks get to me but really, what is funny about this?

I just came off a 2 day migraine myself, vomiting, extreme pain for a straight 48 hours that my meds wouldn't touch so maybe I temporarily lost my sense of humor?

Karma is a bitch and I really hope they get it good.

[Rev.Reverence]

I had to stop for a minute to re-read that. Then I giggled... just a bit, 'cause I'm fucked up in the head and believe there are sometimes when you must laugh, or cry; and I can't cry and type.

My faith in humanity is shaken, some more, AGAIN...

Yeah, that shit is fucked up, KARMA's too slow for these douchebags...

DOOM, I SAY DOOM!!!!!

I'll go straight for the candle closet and oOOOO

:rant: :rant:

edited 'cause it didn't look angry enough

[Marmee_Noir]

I had to stop for a minute to re-read that. Then I giggled... just a bit, 'cause I'm fucked up in the head and believe there are sometimes when you must laugh, or cry; and I can't cry and type.

My faith in humanity is shaken, some more, AGAIN...

Yes I think that is horrible, but yeah I'll admit it also.. I giggled a lil but well hell I laugh at pretty much anything inappropriate. But yeah you do have to wonder what sort of people sit around and think up these things... Seriously who really is that sad that they put all this time and effort into fucking with people and people over the net! Yup yup yup, I'm sure one of these days they'll get what is comming to them.. Karma always tends to win out.

Oh yeah and P.S; the whole point I quoted you was, ummmm yeah you actually have faith in humanity... Wow impressive...

[Troy Spiral (13)]

That is some MAJOR jackass behavior. Sounds like something some guys i know (unfortunately for me) via online means and at CC locally would pull. Although i can hear their defense ias to why the shouldn't be banned and have PPOs (or whatever would apply) against them "freedom of expression dude... your oppressing me.... comon it was funny. Nuyk Nyuk. Leme go bitch about it on myspace..."

My best friend since the ancient times friend has epilepsy , and I've had to deal with it several times, this story in particular irritates me pretty badly. All understanding of humanity and peace and love aside.

Yeah what the hell is wrong with me though. I was at once really pissed off but then also briefly felt a desire to chuckle. Somethings not right with my wiring i don't think. Must have something to do with even me, seeing it first hand, lacking in social awareness and the suffering such stupidity can cause.

[Burrich1]

Hmm.

Normally I try not to let stupid net tricks get to me but really, what is funny about this?

I think it's the minds natural defense to find humor in tragedy, or just plain bad situations. I believe it helps keep you sane. Hollywood capitalizes on movies about "just wrong" situations like this. Look at the "The Ringer." (I was already going to hell for laughing throughout this movie.)

Then again, maybe it's not the norm, and I just have a very dark sense of humor. I've always said I am not wired right either.

[Hellion]

There are also ppl who terrorize anyone that has depression,seeing if they will off them selves,which IMO is wrong, like playing the song "Jump" from Van Halen when there is someone threatening to jump off a bridge,gotta love an apethetic society.

[ttogreh]

Sigh...

A hacker is not the same as a griefer. A hacker wants to know how a system works, and why it does this instead of that. A griefer uses javascript code to cause nausea inducing migraines and seizures in epileptics.

Hacker = curious.

Griefer = Asshole.

[Rev.Reverence]

Sigh...

A hacker is not the same as a griefer. A hacker wants to know how a system works, and why it does this instead of that. A griefer uses javascript code to cause nausea inducing migraines and seizures in epileptics.

Hacker = curious.

Griefer = Asshole.

Hey, thanx, I am not so savvy as to inter-web terminology...

I appreciated and can understand the semantical difference... that is a helpful correction...

ooOOO...I hate Greifers!!!!

[jadnifer]

This is sick and really bothers me considering the fact that I have what they call pseudoseizures that are brought on by stress. I am not photosensitive but I have all the characteristics of having a seizure. It's scary as hell and it just saddens my look on society to think that people are out there intentionally trying to do this to people. It sickens me. A LOT!