Cyber warfare is waging across the Taiwan Straits on a daily basis. Trashing each other's web sites has reached the point of a local sport, but this is only the most common and least harmful of the activities. Some sites (such as the one run by the unofficial US embassy) have been shut down by massive Email or "ping" attacks. Attempts to crack into classified military and government networks and databases are almost daily occurrences. One 22 Aug 99, over 1,000 automatic teller machines on Taiwan suddenly stopped working, apparently the result of a computer virus sent from China. It appears that many of the attacks are launched independent of their governments by local hackers combining techno-fun with patriotic zeal. It is thought probable, however, that at least some of the attacks are encouraged if not conducted outright by government agencies.--Stephen V Cole