STORY:
Internet Y2K Ready

Computer Y2K problems should not effect the Internet traffic

If you want to spend your New Year’s Eve surfing the Net, chances are you will be able to do so, and ring in the Year 2000 without any interruptions. Internet experts say the web is Y2K ready and can bypass any failures spawned by the computer Y2K bug.

The Internet is so new; it is Y2K ready say computer experts who have been looking into the issue. Donald Heath is the chief executive of the Internet Society, he says the Internet might slow down a bit, but the entire network won’t give out. The Internet Society is a non-profit group that helps set Internet infrastructure standards. Heath adds the only problems facing the Internet are power outages in cities that have not brought their utilities up to date.

The Y2K problem is caused by some computers recognizing years by only the last two digits. This means the year 2000 would be interpreted to be the year 1900 and that could cause computer failures on January 1.

Most of the equipment used for the Internet is so new it’s been ready for Y2K from the start. On top of that, computers on the global network can find alternate routes to each other, traffic might be stop-and-go, but it won’t fail in gridlock.

Although some parts of the Internet, such as routers and switches, could be unprepared for the date change, the network’s major components have been updated and tested according to the President’s Y2K council.

However, Internet disruptions might take place in nations where phone, power and Internet service companies are less prepared for Y2K than their U.S. counterparts.

There is one problem that could occur on the Internet this New Year. Computer hackers, not the Y2K bug, increase the threat of computer viruses. Hackers looking for attention may target the January 1 date to get extra attention. It is going to be tough for hackers to get into systems on New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s day. Network administrators are going to be working around the clock to make sure their systems are safe from bugs.

The only thing Internet officials say might happen because of the New Year is the systems may slow down because of large volumes of New Year messages. The slowdown would have nothing to do with the Y2K bug, just the large number of people using their time off work to send messages to friends and family.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

DATE: 11/18/99

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