snowbunny00774
ONE love, blood, life
SYDNEY (AFP) - Cyber vandals have "bombed" an island created by Australia's state broadcaster in the virtual world of Second Life, the company said Tuesday.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said its island in the alternative universe where companies are carving out virtual presences had been "griefed," or subjected to virtual vandalism.
Abigail Thomas, the head of strategic development in ABC Innovation which runs the island, said a hacker had "bombed" the island and various features that users had painstakingly created had been removed.
"We will now be looking closely at security measures, investigating how the hackers breached the existing security and, of course, making changes to protect the island's future development," she said.
The island, which bears the shape of the ABC's logo, boasts features in which visitors can listen to music, hear talks and watch videos of some of the broadcaster's shows.
Features including a virtual amphitheatre and a "Sandbox" were however obliterated and the San Francisco-based company that runs Second Life, Linden Labs, was trying to restore them, Thomas said.
In the meantime the ABC's island remains off limits to cybernauts for the next day or two.
Second Life creates an alternative 3D world where users, incarnated in the new universe by their "avatars," or animated proxies, is fast gaining popularity around the world.
But as in the real world, mischief and violence pervades the virtual realm too.
Last week, acrimonious Spanish politics spread into the virtual world when supporters of socialist and conservative parties tried to burn down each others' party offices on Second Life.
Other firms with Second Life incarnations have also been targeted by "bomb" attacks.
The Second Life Liberation Army, or SLLA, which was campaigning for virtual democracy, detonated bombs outside a virtual American Apparel store and a Reebok store earlier this year.
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My condolences to any of you had had property damaged, however I do selfishly hope I have a chance of getting good virtual seats to the music benefit extravaganza that will surely occur to encourage peace in the alternate universe.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said its island in the alternative universe where companies are carving out virtual presences had been "griefed," or subjected to virtual vandalism.
Abigail Thomas, the head of strategic development in ABC Innovation which runs the island, said a hacker had "bombed" the island and various features that users had painstakingly created had been removed.
"We will now be looking closely at security measures, investigating how the hackers breached the existing security and, of course, making changes to protect the island's future development," she said.
The island, which bears the shape of the ABC's logo, boasts features in which visitors can listen to music, hear talks and watch videos of some of the broadcaster's shows.
Features including a virtual amphitheatre and a "Sandbox" were however obliterated and the San Francisco-based company that runs Second Life, Linden Labs, was trying to restore them, Thomas said.
In the meantime the ABC's island remains off limits to cybernauts for the next day or two.
Second Life creates an alternative 3D world where users, incarnated in the new universe by their "avatars," or animated proxies, is fast gaining popularity around the world.
But as in the real world, mischief and violence pervades the virtual realm too.
Last week, acrimonious Spanish politics spread into the virtual world when supporters of socialist and conservative parties tried to burn down each others' party offices on Second Life.
Other firms with Second Life incarnations have also been targeted by "bomb" attacks.
The Second Life Liberation Army, or SLLA, which was campaigning for virtual democracy, detonated bombs outside a virtual American Apparel store and a Reebok store earlier this year.
****************************************************
My condolences to any of you had had property damaged, however I do selfishly hope I have a chance of getting good virtual seats to the music benefit extravaganza that will surely occur to encourage peace in the alternate universe.
Damn shame.
