Samenvatting

By critically analysing the initial worries concerning public reactions and the actual responses to attacks by new military technologies (strategic bombing during World War II), to natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina), to the 2003 Blackouts (in the US), and to terrorist attacks (9/11), the author concludes that the premises on which cyber-doom scenarios are based, are flawed. For future cyber scenarios and for developing proper policy responses, these premisis ought to be validated and critically analysed.