In experiments designed to simulate how effective an organised attack on the Internet's infrastructure would be, scientists from Ohio State University led by Tony Grubesic, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Cincinnati found that the network of the Internet would quickly begin to unravel and collapse if the Internet's key hubs were targetted, reported the BBC earlier this week.
"The virtual attacks showed that the net would keep going in major cities, but outlying areas and smaller towns would gradually be cut off.
The researchers warn that the net has become more vulnerable as it has become more commercialised and key net cables are concentrated in the hands of fewer organisations."
The Internet is no doubt often seen by many terrorist groups as one of the main personifications of capitalism in the West, and would make a tempting target for terror groups like those responsible for the September 11 attacks last year. The effect of such an attack would be devastating both socially and economically in a world that's becomming increasingly dependant on the Internet for communication and trade.
More here at the BBC News Web Site.