But they were dazzled by the larger picture and neither would anticipate the devil lurking in the detail where all potential catastrophes are known to hide. To their chagrin and immense embarrassment, nor would the very shepherds of our computer-dependent society. Traffic lights go blind. There is no heat, no running water. Sewers and waste management systems crank to a halt.
Satellites go mute.
Air, sea and land communications are crippled. Assets are frozen. Salary, welfare and social security payments cease. International transactions are suspended. Despite safeguards, stock markets crash, triggering trillion-dollar lawsuits.