Undoubtedly, the internet is crucial to our modern lives. Without it, managing tasks or even performing jobs would be challenging. It may seem surprising that many people are dissatisfied with this connectivity and attempt, through various means, to disrupt and disable the web.

Since Tim Berners-Lee launched the internet in the late 1980s, there have been numerous attempts to undermine it, ranging from occasional cyberattacks to thwarted terrorist plots. Some of these attacks were carried out by organized military groups or governments with political motives, while others resulted from personal grievances, such as a disgruntled individual severing wires from a service box.

Seth Aaron: The Man Who Tried to Blow Up the Internet

In 2021, a Texas man named Seth Aaron was arrested for attempting to sabotage and blow up the internet. He planned to destroy approximately 70% of the web by targeting a data center in Virginia with C4 explosives. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Seth intended to attack FBI and CIA servers. Authorities were alerted to this plot by one of his acquaintances. Although Seth was an active member of extremist websites, experts believe that even if he had succeeded, he would not have destroyed 70% of the internet as claimed, since network infrastructure is globally distributed.

As a result of this crime, Seth now faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

Chinese Liu: Attempting to Destroy the Internet to Hide Embarrassing Videos

No one likes to be humiliated online, and many people face embarrassing situations captured on video and shared on social media. However, one person took extreme measures to remove such videos. In 2016, a Chinese man named Liu was concerned that someone might view and download embarrassing footage of him from the web. Liu’s story began after he moved to the city of Weifang. In China, it is common for middle-aged women to gather in the streets to perform a folk dance known as the “Grandma Dance.” Liu joined one of these dances to entertain local residents. Passersby laughed and recorded the dance on their phones. Liu did not think much of it at the time, but a few months later, he grew anxious about the footage being posted online. In August 2016, Liu broke into a China Telecom office and attempted to destroy four service servers, causing an estimated $15,000 in damage. Surveillance cameras captured his actions, making it easy for the police to identify and arrest him.

Chad’s Social Media Blackout for a Year

From March 2018, Chad experienced the longest social media and internet blackout in African history. Only about 6.5% of Chadians had regular internet access, leaving the rest unable to interact with loved ones, local businesses unable to advertise, and journalists struggling to make their voices heard. The government imposed this ban in response to growing opposition after critics labeled the former president, Idriss Déby, as a “democratically bankrupt” leader accused of mass censorship and clinging to power.

Mirai Bots Attack Dyn Servers

While the web is filled with hackers and malware, their impact has been relatively minor compared to the Mirai bots. These bots orchestrated an attack on U.S. systems in October 2016, causing widespread internet outages by targeting Dyn, an IT company managing significant online infrastructure at the time. The digital assault disrupted major websites like Twitter, Netflix, and CNN.

Mirai bots represented a sophisticated form of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which flood servers with data until the system crashes. Experts consider Mirai one of the largest DDoS attacks in history, with hackers exploiting a wide range of devices, including digital cameras and video players, to attack Dyn servers.

Houthi Attacks on Yemen’s Main Internet Cable

Yemen is currently experiencing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Since 2015, the Houthis have been battling the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis view the internet as a weapon in this conflict, leading them to impose an internet blackout in the country. In July 2018, 80% of internet users were left stranded after the Houthis severed the country’s main fiber optic cable. Communications Minister Lutfi Basharif stated that the Houthis were imposing social media bans and slowing down already weak internet service, with reports suggesting they intended to cut off internet access entirely to cover up their crimes.

Morris Worm and the Accidental Cyberattack

The story began in 1988 when Robert Tapan Morris, a graduate student at Cornell University, worked on a method to measure the size of the internet. He inadvertently launched the world’s first cyberattack. Morris created a program that jumped from one computer to another, counting each one. However, his program, now known as the “Morris Worm,” spread rapidly and ended up clogging a significant portion of the web. Morris accidentally invented a DDoS attack—an assault that overwhelms servers with data, leading to system crashes. His unintentional attack caused a major internet disruption.

Saboteurs Attempting to Cut Internet Service in Egypt

In 2013, three divers were arrested off the coast of Alexandria after attempting to sabotage an underwater internet cable, aiming to disrupt Egypt’s internet network. Egyptian Coast Guard apprehended them before they could cause any network disruption. The Egyptian Navy released photos online showing the three men restrained and accused of attempting to damage an internet cable. Egyptian internet traffic connects to Europe through eight cables. While severing one cable would not destroy the entire network, it would cause significant disruption. The men refused to disclose their motives or whether they were working for someone.

India’s Long History of Service Interruptions

In recent years, India has been among the countries most frequently imposing internet access restrictions. Disruptions began with the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019. Since then, the country has seen a rise in protests against the Hindu nationalist regime, often met with internet shutdowns under the pretext of maintaining “public order.” Many Indians accuse officials of attacking free speech.

The most notable internet blackout occurred when the Modi government shut down services in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. More than 13 million people were cut off from the internet for eighteen months until service was restored in February 2021.

Attack on the Internet’s Main Server System

In 2002, the internet was shocked by what technology experts at the time called the “largest and most complex DDoS attack ever.” Cyber attackers targeted thirteen major servers that formed the core of internet communications at that time. Fortunately, existing protection measures prevented a full internet outage. However, if the attack had lasted an additional hour, it could have had severe repercussions for internet users worldwide.