While Willis's own antics in these films are a case study in far-fetchedness, just how probable is a large scale cyber-attack in reality?
The doomsday scenario of a large scale cyber-attack crippling financial markets or stock exchanges looks increasingly likely given the economic stakes and the relative ease with which hackers are absconding with billions of dollars from the financial system each year.
Apple has suffered its first large-scale cyber attack after hackers managed to embed malicious software in hundreds of iPhone and iPad apps.
The revelation that the US is preparing a specific target list for offensive cyber-action is likely to reignite previously raised concerns of security researchers and academics, several of whom have warned that large-scale cyber operations could easily escalate into full-scale military conflict.
Google took an exceptionally hard line against China late Tuesday, naming it as the source of a large-scale cyber attack last month, aimed at breaching the security of Google and some 20 other companies.
Also in 2007, the world had to deal with the consequences of a large-scale cyber attack, when the Estonian government, banks, media and police were collectively targeted by over 100 individual cyber attacks, forcing the nation to shut down its key computer systems to protect itself.
Botnets can be used by hackers to perform large-scale cyber attacks against websites by drowning them with traffic.
As we reported on Monday, the conflict in the Gaza Strip had incited a large-scale cyber war that attacked Israel's media and PR efforts from all sides.
China claims it is the victim of large-scale cyber attacks from the United States, though it has given few details.
This forward-looking approach is particularly important in today's uncertain world, marked by events such as Brexit, political upheavals, plunging oil prices, and large-scale cyber security attacks.
