Russia and Georgia Engaged In a Cyberwar 276
doctorfaustus writes "I first picked this up in bits and pieces last week off Daily Rotation. A more in-depth story is available at ZDNet, which reports 'a week's worth of speculations around Russian Internet forums have finally materialized into a coordinated cyber attack against Georgia's Internet infrastructure. The attacks have already managed to compromise several government web sites, with continuing DDoS attacks against numerous other Georgian government sites, prompting the government to switch to hosting locations to the US, with Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertaking a desperate step in order to disseminate real-time information by moving to a Blogspot account.' There is a question whether the computer work is being done by the Russian military or others. ZDNet's story offers further analysis of the attacks themselves and their origins. Some pretty good reporting." And reader redbu11 contributes the news that Georgia seems to be censoring access to all Russian websites, as confirmed by a Georgian looking glass/nslookup tool. The access is blocked on DNS level (Italy censored the Pirate Bay in the same way). Here are a couple of screenshots (in a language other than English) as of Aug 12th 5:40 pm: www.linux.ru nslookup — FAIL, www.cnn.com nslookup — OK.
ComputerWorld guy CWmike adds "In an intriguing cyberalliance, two Estonian computer experts are heading to Georgia to keep the country's networks running amid an intense military confrontation with Russia. Poland has lent space on its president's Web page for Georgia to post updates on its ongoing conflict with Russia. Estonia is also now hosting Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site."
ComputerWorld guy CWmike adds "In an intriguing cyberalliance, two Estonian computer experts are heading to Georgia to keep the country's networks running amid an intense military confrontation with Russia. Poland has lent space on its president's Web page for Georgia to post updates on its ongoing conflict with Russia. Estonia is also now hosting Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site."
let it loose! (Score:1, Funny)
We can just sit back and watch and see just how good their blackhats really are.
Poor Atlanta... (Score:5, Funny)
Well, that's a relief (Score:4, Funny)
I heard all this talk about a war between Russia and Georgia and got kind of anxious, but itturns out it's just a cyberwar. The media really should stop sensationalizing these things like that.
Direct translation to Battlefield... (Score:3, Funny)
It seems that Georgian military units are pinging off the map, while russian units are enjoying first shot capability.
This has allowed the Russians to clear each map easily, with little resistance.
Re:You know what's great about Soviet Georgia? (Score:5, Funny)
I don't know, dude. This is the Caucasus [wikipedia.org] we're talking about. Lots of Caucasians there.
Re:You know what's great about Soviet Georgia? (Score:4, Funny)
I don't know, dude. This is the Caucasus [wikipedia.org] we're talking about. Lots of Caucasians there.
Yah, but they're mostly self-loathing caucasians, as opposed to white supremacists.
a Language other than English (Score:3, Funny)
Here are a couple of screenshots (in a language other than English)
It's Georgian. In language and alphabet.
Re:Without country (Score:3, Funny)
What's to stop widespread vigilante justice against either side?
Hot double agents who promise to aid the hackers in their jihad against perpetual virginity in return for non-interferenece.
Haha, LOL, but not really! (Score:3, Funny)
Russia: Yes, I would love to cyber
Georgia: 2 late lol..just got 3 msgs
Russia: Die
Georgia: ?
Russia: I winnuke you
Georgia: OH *@#@)(! I am still running win95!
I didn't know Georgia had computers (Score:3, Funny)
Oh wait, you meant the other Georgia.
In Soviet Russia... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:let it loose! (Score:2, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:let it loose! (Score:4, Funny)
hmm...Russia....RED hat hackers?!? ehh? ehhh?? get it?!
So... red hats... a bunch of old ladies [wikipedia.org]?
Re:let it loose! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:let it loose! (Score:5, Funny)
We need a "hat colour" for a war hacker. This will become a lot more common in the information age.
Any takes on a good colour?
Digital Camo of course. Sheesh, what's your excuse? Your UID isn't THAT high.
CyberWar Weapon (Score:4, Funny)
nope, I think it can be said (Score:2, Funny)
They are 'asshat' hackers.
Russia behaves like an organized crime gang on a superpower scale. There is little mercy or love left in the Russian soul.
That being said, Georgia made a serious, serious blunder when it attacked the Ossetien separatists.
Re:You know what's great about Soviet Georgia? (Score:3, Funny)
"Russians, Georgians, and Niggers are all sub-human."
History of the Internet, Chapter 5: David Duke gets his first email address, Slashdot account.
Re:let it loose! (Score:2, Funny)
I humbly propose a new term for hackers who engage in warfare: "steel hat".
Cry havoc! (Score:1, Funny)
and let slip the nerds of war.
-- apologies to Shakespeare, &c.
Slashdotted (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm, the preseident's site seems to be down now, I guess they could handle the attacks, but not slashdot. I wonder if Slashdot should be considered a WMD?