Cyber Jihad on Nov. 11? Um, probably not

Numerous reports have surfaced regarding what’s being described as an al-Qaeda plot to hatch a cyber jihad Nov. 11, directed at numerous Web sites. According to the initial report by the online publication DEBKAfile, the attack is expected to begin by targeting 15 western, Jewish, Israeli, Muslim apostate and Shiite Web sites, and expand from there.

Have no fear. Johannes Ullrich, Chief Research Officer of the SANS Internet Storm Center and one of this team’s most trusted sources, says there’s no need to cancel your Nov. 11 dinner plans. In a post today on the SANS ISC blog, Ullrich says it’s likely that the attack will never come to fruition, noting similar past claims that went nowhere and that the date Nov. 11 is often known for hoaxes.

“So in short: stay calm, focus on best practices and you don’t have to do anything special on November 11th,” Ullrich says. Well, that is, unless you were planning something special already.