A new kind of Web attack has taken form as a JavaScript inserted into the Epilepsy Foundation Web site was used to trigger the display of seizure-inducing images.

Wired.com has reported that the attack began on 22 March 2008, when a script was used by attackers to post hundreds of messages with flashing animated .GIFs on the nonprofit organization’s forum. Seemingly unsatisfied with the previous method, the perpetrators even managed to change their scheme by creating a script that redirected users to a page containing more seizure-causing images. The said script was then inserted into posts on the Web site, thus executing whenever a visitor clicks on the said posts.

The images shown on affected pages were said to display a pattern of squares rapidly flashing in different colors. Images of such nature are known to trigger epileptic seizures and are banned from being shown publicly. A recent case of which was Gnarls Barkley’s music video which was banned due to its possibly hazardous effects.

Evidence regarding the incident points the finger to online troublemakers collectively known as Anonymous, who previously waged war against the Church of Scientology. The group’s clash with the Church is said to have originated from the latter’s efforts to apply censorship on the Web.

Fortunately enough, users who visited the site at the time it was affected reported that the images did not cause them to have convulsions. They however stated that it did bring about unpleasant effects such as migraine. Few people have reported being affected by the attack, but the Epilepsy Foundation believes there may be more unreported cases.

With an attack that inflicted damage on a physical level to its victims, we can only conceive this sick ploy as its executors’ way to establish themselves as the troublemakers they really are.

Endangering the lives of innocent people reaching out to other people with a similar condition just to send a message — it is easily an all-time low for hackers.