Government-Sponsored Cyberattacks on the Rise
Posted by
Zonk
on Fri Nov 30, 2007 01:23 PM
from the less-of-a-pr-disaster-too dept.
from the less-of-a-pr-disaster-too dept.
jbrodkin writes "A new McAfee report finds that 120 countries, notably the United States and China, are regularly launching Web-based espionage campaigns. Government-sponsored cyber attacks against enemy countries are becoming more common, targeting critical systems including electricity, air traffic control, financial markets and government computer networks. This year, Russia allegedly attacked Estonian government news and bank servers, while China was accused of hacking into the Pentagon. A McAfee researcher says this trend will accelerate, noting 'it's easier to attack government X's database than it is to nuke their troops.'"
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Not just that... (Score:5, Funny)
But it's easier on the environment, too!!
How ironic... (Score:3, Insightful)
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It is easier to attack. But it is not easier to shut down.
Of course it is easier to attack, it is the ARMOR the country's communication system wears. It is what is exposed to attack, so it is easier to attack.
Not exactly surprising! (Score:3, Insightful)
Yet another good reason to keep your computers secure!
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I could. It's called 'unplugging your computer from the internet'.
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I think this is exactly the point I haven't seen anybody making, but that we're all feeling. If governments are actively engaging in hacking, assuming they find competent hackers, what is to stop somebody from using the tools to hit innocent civilians? Of
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Or open your computer and copy your HD.
They want it badly enough, they're going to get it.
I'm just s
I called this yesterday - sort of (Score:2)
Yes, foolish to let other governments have all the totalitarian fun. I'm reasonably certain that the current administration has been using their toys to spy on us all.
It's our fault (Score:2)
Worst excuse in the world, (Score:3, Insightful)
Indeed the United States would be foolish to sit back as others engage in cyberespionage.
I think the activity is more at punking than espionage, in
Finally, a bad analogy on slashdot! (Score:5, Insightful)
This isn't like jumping off of a bridge. There's a breal, tangible benefit here, and if the situation is assymetric, our country would be best off if it were asymmetric in our favor.
Part of our "evil" plan to control the entire world involves us performing acts of espionage against just about every other country.
Every country does it, because that's how a country survives. If there was no such thing as war and terrorism (whatever the cause) maybe that would not be the case. But as long as other countries threaten our position, our livelihood, and even our very existence (and in the nuclear age, yes they do) we're gonna have to collect information through just about every available means. It may not be "nice" but it is a smart move.
+1, Funny (Score:3, Interesting)
Nothing *evil* about our plans or anyone elses.
because that's how a country survives.
I consider rather that count
national accident? (Score:2)
Hopefully, (Score:2)
quantum truth effects (Score:3, Funny)
We are dealing in the interactions of collections of particles called beings; rather, c
which is better? (Score:5, Insightful)
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Completely not joking, a physical attack is better and heres why. Physical destruction of lives and things pisses off the populace. People will get up in arms about ending the war and making peace. If its "just" some cyber attacks people will be apt to
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Huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm completely not understanding how the linked article is derived from this "McAfee's Virtual Criminology Report". The version I'm seeing has nothing to do with "government-sponsored cyberattacks" and doesn't contain this quote.
Storm Worm (Score:2)
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No (Score:5, Insightful)
Hollywood managed to persuade everyone that with a few million dollars and a rock-star hacker it is possible to break into the most secure systems. The fact is that when sysadmins have been doing their jobs, it is easier to conduct a physical attack than a networked one. Do you think that electronic money could exist otherwise ?
Re:No (Score:4, Interesting)
However, most of us know that many networks are vulnerable to attack because they're neither correctly set-up nor are their admins doing their jobs. In these cases, even a no-talent script kiddie could break in easier than a government could launch a nuclear attack.
No (Score:2)
1) If you fail, you don't die.
2) Nobody notices when you succeed, and you're free to do whatever with the information you've got.
If someone notices you've failed (or succeeded), you're likel
However, comma ... (Score:2)
How many government networks do you suppose are correctly set up? Nevermind commercial networks, which don't even have the benefit of government standard
RTFR! (Score:4, Informative)
(Note that I'm not asserting that the US is not conducting electronic espionage. I would hope that we are. Heck, we did electronic espionage long before the internet; why should we stop now?)
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Indeed, this is not new... (Score:4, Insightful)
Estonia got hammered, probably by Russia. That Russia contracted a stormbot net merely qualifies it as a mercenary attack. Think Bay of Pigs, with a lot more deniability.
China-based machines have been spotted trying all sorts of hijinks against targets worldwide. Not that China-based machines are alone in this, but they seem to be pretty aggressive.
When I was younger, I dreamt up interesting warfare. Why use Anthrax when a decent influenza mutant gave you deniability and a very debilitating attack. Use something like Salmonella, and give the population diarreah. A cleanup of fairly massive proportions. As part of the strategy, hit Atlanta with the Salmonella, and Phoenix, and watch the water problems escalate. Influenza would be best used in metropolitan areas, since it would be indistiguishable from a genuine pandemic.
Cyberwar offers states deniability, subterfuge, and targeted attacks at economic and industrial resources. Wonderful way to cripple your opponent on their own soil, and then run circles around them snarfing up territory, influence, or just plain good press while the losers suffer in every other way.
Once upon a time, you knew who your enemy was - they were slashing, shooting, or bombing you. then it got harder to figure out where they were. Then it got harder to figure out WHO they were.
From now on, it will be harder to figure out if you're really under attack, until it's too late.
I suspect our military will be taking more and more systems off-Net, to completely prevent attacks. Then our adversaries will go after the softest parts of the military systems: Communications - satellites for instance. Logistics - civilian systems the military depends on. Political Systems - including the media, elections.
We are close to fighting an invisble enemy, with uncertain targets, in a neverending low-grade conflict that saps our resources and diverts our attention from greater threats and opportunities.
Time to start giving tax breaks to onshore manufacturers again. We cannot continue to import most of our critical technology from our avowed and hostile enemies.
Re:Indeed, this is not new... (Score:5, Insightful)
Low-grade, untraceable and deniable attacks are a fact of life with electronic communications. We can either make sure that everyone has a stake in the overall health of the world economy, or we can start a wonderful cycle of isolationism, paranoia and "us vs them" attitude. Personally, I know which way I tend.
Here's a thought (Score:3)
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your tax dollars at work? (Score:3, Insightful)
And ... (Score:2)
Great, another ISP excuse (Score:2, Funny)
Me: So, why is my internet out this time?
Tech Support: Um, let me check. (spins the wheel of random technical failures) Looks like acid rain. Sorry.
Me: That's what you told me last time! I think you're lying to me!
Tech Support: Ok, let me check it a
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Re:Governments Engage in Cyber Warfare! (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah, thats great, who cares, until your Social Security check doesn't come or your bank account drops to zero.
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MOD PARENT UP Re:Governments Engage in Cyber Warfa (Score:2, Insightful)
My biggest concern (Score:4, Interesting)
Gotta stop those so-called terrorists, after all.
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You're saying the GFC is a boner?
Sorry...sorry...couldn't help meself.
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Silly, really, since many people here think that rootkitted non-win servers play a key role in controlling botnets.
They are the 'Generals', whilst the windows boxes are he expendable 'troops'
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SCADA attacks are as old as the hills.
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Infiltrating other government networks is an act of war. So I don't expect them to actually attack them, any more then I expect a military exercise to a