Gregs cable map.

[TheFootMan]

I've found this map quite interesting for researching internet cables around the world:

http://cablemap.info/

[hilariousandco]

Great, now the terrorists know exactly where to strike  . Can you image how much chaos the world would be plunged into if a few of the big ones were attacked?

There's another map here: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/datablog/interactive/2012/feb/28/undersea-internet-cable-map-interactive

I remember reading another interest article on the Guardian about these undersea cables but I can't seem to find it now.

[Kluge]

So Cuba's pretty much the last country on Earth to receive a physical connection to the rest of us? Wow. That's a pretty impressive story on it, actually. http://transdeuce.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/why-did-alcatel-lucent-win-the-alba-1-fiber-optic-cable-contract-with-cuba-and-venezuela/

Instead of a 20 mile cable from the US, they have to pay to go all the way to Venezuela.

[TheFootMan]

Great, now the terrorists know exactly where to strike  . Can you image how much chaos the world would be plunged into if a few of the big ones were attacked?

There's another map here: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/datablog/interactive/2012/feb/28/undersea-internet-cable-map-interactive

I remember reading another interest article on the Guardian about these undersea cables but I can't seem to find it now.

I remember I read an article about it once as well, and there were speculations that some ships had deliberately damaged cables, and of course the system is vulernable, and I've read that there are some repair ships constantly sailing the seas mending these cables as well.

But isn't the whole point of the internet that traffic can route whereever possible, so  if one main cable goes awol, there's always other cable to take over it's work?

Personally I find looking at that map very interesting.

[Lauda]

Looking at the Map, I didn't know that so many cables went through Marseille. Do these different colors represent anything besides it being a different cable?

[Malin Keshar]

Internet is decentralized network that can easily find others paths, so to be effective the attack should target many key links at the same time.

I think the most important are well guarded by the military, and there are plenty not listed in public lists

[TheFootMan]

I think the most important are well guarded by the military, and there are plenty not listed in public lists

Would not these somehow become 'exposed' ? I mean, buying all that gear, and deploying it at sea, it's not exactly a small operation, somebody ought to know about it - but perhaps if done covertly, and landingpoints are at millitary areas?

[BlackFurry]

What if some terrorist or sea pirates started to cut off this cables and demand bribes? Is this buried under the sea?

[hilariousandco]

What if some terrorist or sea pirates started to cut off this cables and demand bribes? Is this buried under the sea?

Yeah, I think they're buried under the seabed, but a ships anchor apparently damaged a cable a while back. I suppose it's not impossible that they'd be a target of a terrorist attack. It'd probably make a good film.

[validium]

What if some terrorist or sea pirates started to cut off this cables and demand bribes? Is this buried under the sea?

I think they would easily get caught plus it would take a lot of financial capability to actually take down the internet, its way too decentralized.

[TheFootMan]

What if some terrorist or sea pirates started to cut off this cables and demand bribes? Is this buried under the sea?

Yeah, I think they're buried under the seabed, but a ships anchor apparently damaged a cable a while back. I suppose it's not impossible that they'd be a target of a terrorist attack. It'd probably make a good film.

Not sure if they're buried, but financially it seems it would make more sense just making solid cables and putting them on the seabed rather than covering them with something after they've been put down. That would be too costly and work-intensive I would think.

[bitsmichel]

What if some terrorist or sea pirates started to cut off this cables and demand bribes? Is this buried under the sea?

The average depth of the ocean is about 14,000 feet (4,267 m), or about 4 kilometre. Its quite a deep swim, the cables are very thick. In addition, internet signals can easily be transferred over radio, light and satellite. There is no financial or religious benefit from cutting a cable.

[johnatan32]

What if some terrorist or sea pirates started to cut off this cables and demand bribes? Is this buried under the sea?

I think they would easily get caught plus it would take a lot of financial capability to actually take down the internet, its way too decentralized.

he is right!