Web servers are much like ships floating out at sea: At risk and vulnerable to attack.

I read an article today (November 18^th 2009) about the Maersk Alabama, a vessel flying US flags that foiled a second attack from Somali pirates. The same ship was hijacked in the Indian Ocean in April and its captain, Richard Phillips, held hostage on a lifeboat for five days before the U.S. Navy was able to rescue him. The Alabama was caught unprepared and Phillips paid the price. This time, security has been beefed up on the Danish owned vessel since the attack in April and the crew was able to fend off the pirates without loss of property or life.

I guess the same lesson can be applied to server security: Preparation and awareness pays off.

Then, the article goes on to tell about the pirates fighting among themselves over a multimillion-dollar ransom they received for releasing a Spanish fishing boat, a local journalist in contact with the pirates said.

"There was a heavy exchange of gunfire between some of our friends," one pirate told the local journalist.

Now, if computer hackers would just target each other with their viruses…

(CNN article)