Elite Seven Chosen As Guardians of the Internet

If an international cyber-war were ever to destroy the internet as we know it, the seven chosen ones have been tasked to revive it.

Seven individuals across the world now hold the safety of the internet in their hands. Should the internet ever be taken down by cyber-terrorists, these guardians are now in possession of keycards that would be able to reboot it.

Hailing from Britain, the U.S., Burkina Faso, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, China, and the Czech Republic, these members of the cyber-security elite aren’t generals or presidents, but rather internet specialists. They sound like pretty soft targets to me for the inevitable Metal Gear Solid situation. Hopefully they’re protected in seven castles each located in a world dominated by a different element or theme.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is overseeing this security plan, which relates to Domain Name System Security (DNSSEC) that ensures websites are legitimate and “signed,” meaning that when you go to Amazon.com you’re actually going to Amazon.com and not to a hacker’s bank account. Due to an international attack, this system may have to sever connections to reduce the damage the attack could cause.

At least five of the super seven would have to converge at a secret base in the U.S. to restart the system, essentially restarting the internet and allowing us to resume play of Mafia Wars. If I were in ICANN, I know I’d make each key a different color and able to open a similarly colored door in the hidden base. The reality is probably not as cool as the basic information makes it seem, but I’d like to imagine this situation as close to Metal Gear or Doom as I can.

Via: PopSci