Internet Under Threat: Top 10 Shutdown Attempts

The internet has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. It powers businesses, connects people, and provides access to information on an unprecedented scale. But what if it all suddenly disappeared? Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to disrupt or even completely shut down the internet. Motives range from political control to personal vendettas and accidental errors. Here are ten notable instances where people tried to pull the plug on the digital world.

Texas Man Attempts To Blow Up The Web

In 2021, Seth Aaron Pendley from Texas was arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up an Amazon data center in Virginia. His goal? To destroy approximately 70% of the internet. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Pendley aimed to target servers belonging to the FBI and CIA, driven by a desire to dismantle what he termed ‘the oligarchy’ ruling the United States.

Pendley’s plan was foiled thanks to a tip-off from a concerned friend. Pendley, who went by the name ‘Dionysus’ on extremist websites, had discussed his intentions on the MyMilitia forum. Despite his claims of taking a sawed-off AR rifle to the Capitol building storming, he asserted he left it in the car.

Fortunately, Pendley’s plan was unrealistic since the internet’s infrastructure is globally distributed with multiple backups. Facing up to 20 years in prison, Pendley’s actions highlight the extreme measures some individuals contemplate against the internet.

Man Tries To Destroy Internet To Hide Embarrassing Footage

In 2016, a Chinese man named Liu took drastic measures to prevent embarrassing footage of himself from surfacing online. Liu, concerned that videos of him participating in a public fitness dance would be uploaded, decided to destroy local internet infrastructure.

Liu had joined a group of middle-aged women in Weifang, China, who regularly participated in ‘granny dances.’ Finding himself the subject of amusement and recordings by passers-by, Liu grew anxious about the footage being shared online. In a bid to prevent this, he broke into four China Telecom service boxes one night in August, causing approximately $15,000 worth of damage.

Caught on CCTV, Liu was quickly apprehended by local police. His desperate attempt to control his online image underscores the extent to which some people will go to manage their personal narratives.

Chad’s Year-Long Social Media Outage

From March 2018, Chad experienced a 16-month social media blackout, the longest in African history. With only 6.5% of the population having regular internet access, the ban severely hampered communication, business, and journalism.

The government imposed the ban in response to increasing political dissent. Critics accused President Idriss Déby of censorship and authoritarianism, claiming the social media shutdown was a desperate attempt to suppress anti-government activism.

According to a report by CIPESA, African governments with democratic deficits fear the internet’s power to empower ordinary citizens to speak truth to power. This incident exemplifies how governments can use internet shutdowns as a tool for political control.

Disruption As Mirai Botnet Attacks Dyn Servers

The Mirai botnet attack in October 2016 stands out as one of the most devastating cyberattacks in history. It brought down a significant portion of the U.S. internet by targeting Dyn, an IT company that controlled a large part of the online infrastructure.

Mirai was a sophisticated distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, overwhelming computer servers with massive amounts of traffic until they shut down. Hackers infiltrated numerous devices, including digital cameras and video players, and used them to attack Dyn’s servers.

This attack affected major websites such as Twitter, Netflix, and CNN, highlighting the vulnerability of critical internet infrastructure to large-scale cyberattacks. Experts consider Mirai the largest DDoS attack ever recorded.

Houthi Rebels Sever Yemen’s Main Cable

In war-torn Yemen, the internet has become another casualty of the ongoing conflict. In July 2018, Houthi rebels severed the country’s main fiber optic cable, leaving 80% of internet users without access.

The rebels cut the cable while reinforcing their defenses in the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Telecommunications minister Lutfi Bashreef accused the Houthis of imposing social media bans and slowing down internet speeds, with intentions to completely cut off the internet to conceal their actions.

Yemen’s situation illustrates how internet infrastructure can be a strategic target in political and military conflicts, further isolating populations already facing humanitarian crises.

Myanmar Coup Government Introduce Internet Shutdown

Following the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s military junta moved swiftly to suppress online dissent by shutting down mobile data and wireless broadband across the country. This internet shutdown was part of a broader effort to control information and limit opposition.

Despite the restrictions, the people of Myanmar have resisted, finding alternative means of communication such as radio channels and communication apps that do not require internet access. Protests continued, with defiant vigils declaring “We will never surrender.”

The events in Myanmar underscore how authoritarian regimes use internet shutdowns as a tool to stifle opposition and control the flow of information during times of political upheaval.

Morris Worm, The Accidental Cyber Attack

In 1988, Cornell graduate student Robert Tappan Morris inadvertently launched one of the first major cyberattacks. Morris created a program intended to measure the size of the internet by jumping from computer to computer and counting each one.

However, the program, known as the Morris worm, spread too rapidly and clogged the internet. It copied itself between devices, overwhelming servers with traffic. Morris accidentally invented the DDoS attack, bringing the internet to its knees.

The Morris worm incident highlights the potential for unintended consequences in the early days of the internet and the vulnerabilities that existed in the then-nascent network.

Saboteurs Try To Cut Off Internet In Egypt

In 2013, three scuba divers were arrested off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, for attempting to cut through an undersea internet cable. The Egyptian coastguard intercepted the team before they could cause any significant damage.

Egyptian naval forces released images of the men, who were accused of trying to sabotage the cable. At the time, Egyptian online traffic connected to Europe via eight cables, so severing one would have caused disruption but not a complete shutdown.

The motive for the attack remains unclear, as the men refused to disclose whether they were working for anyone. This incident illustrates the physical vulnerabilities of undersea internet cables.

India’s Long History Of Internet Shutdowns

In recent years, India has frequently blocked internet access, more than any other country. These blackouts often coincide with political unrest and protests against government policies.

The most significant internet shutdown occurred in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, when the government shut down services, leaving over 13 million people without internet access for eighteen months. Authorities claimed it was essential to “keep the peace,” but many accused officials of suppressing free speech.

India’s extensive use of internet shutdowns raises concerns about human rights and the government’s control over information in the digital age.

Onslaught Against Internet’s Root Server System

In 2002, the internet faced a massive DDoS attack targeting the thirteen root servers that formed the core of internet communications at the time. This attack was described by experts as the largest and most complex of its kind.

Built-in safeguards prevented a complete shutdown, but had the hour-long offensive continued, it could have severely impacted internet users worldwide. Digital security expert Chris Morrow called it “probably the most concerted attack against the Internet infrastructure that we’ve seen.”

This event underscored the importance of securing the internet’s core infrastructure against potential attacks and vulnerabilities.

From accidental cyber attacks to politically motivated shutdowns, these ten instances highlight the various threats the internet faces. While the internet has proven resilient, these events serve as reminders of its vulnerabilities and the importance of ongoing efforts to protect it.

What do you think about these attempts to shut down the internet? Leave your comment below!