"It only takes one vulnerable system to start a chain reaction that can lead to devastating results," he said.

Script kiddies are often able to exploit vulnerable systems and strike with moderate success.

The Economy In the nation's telephone system more vulnerable to major dis-ruptions because of its new technology?

"They worry that they are building their network on top of a vulnerable system," he said.

Once a vulnerable system has been found, the information is passed on to the rest of the board and subsequently the "hackers".

Others are looking to take over vulnerable systems in order to use them as safe houses for setting off further, more serious, attacks.

If the approach succeeds repair work should come about more efficiently in a system less vulnerable to abuse.

Against a vulnerable system, the attack is computationally inexpensive and often requires only known ciphertext.

How to safeguard this vulnerable system against such shenanigans?

No permanent hardware damage would result from executing the f00f instruction on a vulnerable system.