Security Bulletin Problem Creates Message Flood (of EMails)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

It started off early Wednesday as an innocuous request from a North Carolina businessman to the Homeland Security Department. He was responding to a daily antiterrorism bulletin by asking that it be sent to another e-mail address.

But by afternoon, a programming flaw involving the “reply” function transformed that e-mail message into a flood of more than 2.2 million messages nationwide that clogged the e-mail accounts of government and private experts on domestic security, including the operators of an Illinois nuclear power station.

Along the way, dozens of the recipients including federal employees, security officers and local officials exchanged lighthearted remarks about random topics like astrological signs and wine preferences.

“It’s good here in D.C.,” Bill Miller wrote from the Office of Emergency Programs in the Treasury Department. “Just a bit muggy!”

Such accidental mass e-mail exchanges often occur in the corporate world. But because this occurred in a network of government and private officials dedicated to preventing and responding to terrorist attacks, it generated disbelief and even anger.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/us/04secure.html?hp

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Oh good grief - I haven't seen this particular computer stupidity since the early days of email!

[truthisfreedom]

1. Department of Homeland Stupidity

[sinkingfeeling]

2. You are soooooo right on that name!