ZERO DAYS: ALEX GIBNEY’S NEW MOVIE EXPOSES THE CHILLING HIDDEN WORLD OF CYBER WARFARE

July 11, 2016

The advancements in technology have been nothing short of miraculous. But what happens when it is misused? Alex Gibney’s chilling documentary Zero Days sheds light on the world of cyber warfare with its unintended consequences. The film tells the story of Stuxnet, a self-replicating computer malware that the U.S. and Israel hatched to destroy a part of the Iranian nuclear facility. The Stuxnet worm is the first known computer attack that leaves the realm of cyberspace and causes actual physical destruction, such as explosions, the shut-down of power grids or various crucial infrastructures of a country. The clandestine mission spread beyond its intended target, and not only backfired in the U.S. but prompted the Iranian government to retaliate with its own cyber warfare. Stuxnet is now one example of a nightmarish open source weapon which can be applied in reverse or applied to any target where there is an infrastructure.

The digital world has both its beautiful and dark sides. But a virus wiping out a hard drive, hacking into e-mails and credit card information, or even vile online pornography are no comparison to the apocalyptic annihilation and havoc-wreaking effects of cyber weaponry.  It has its parallel in the atomic bomb and poses tremendous threats to the safety of our planet. While there are international agreements governing conventional warfare, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, there are none yet for cyber weapons as the U.S. has shrouded them in such secrecy that even within the system, major sectors of the government were oblivious to their existence. Such was the case with The Department of Homeland Security when Stuxnet was launched. The fact that this movie was ever made, given the secrecy surrounding it should be attributed to the determination and investigative prowess of prolific director Alex Gibney (We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, Steve Jobs: The Man In The Machine, Taxi To The Dark Side, No End In Sight).

Through accounts from various journalists, analysts, whistleblowers and U.S. and Israeli secret service people, Gibney delivers a superbly intelligent and well-crafted documentary thriller that in his words “takes this story out of the technical pages” and becomes major food for thought and public debate.  The movie leaves us with disquieting but crucial questions such as:  “Is it worth sacrificing the greater good and welfare of our planet for political and strategic agendas? Should certain inventions not be pursued if they are proven to be so fatal and detrimental to our own good?  Have we reached a point where technology can no longer be controlled?  Do we want to live in a world where millions of lives can be destroyed with just one click? Could this be the beginnings of World War III?

Zero Days is now playing in theatres.

For more information regarding the movie, you can visit: http://www.zerodaysfilm.com/

Official trailer