Massive DDoS Cuts Myanmar Off From Net 149
Trailrunner7 writes "The nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, found its access to the Internet severed by a massive denial of service attack, according to a report by Arbor Networks. The source or motivation of the attack isn't known, but it is believed that the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have targeted the country's Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (or PTT), the main conduit for Internet traffic in and out of the authoritarian nation."
Re:According to Wikipedia... (Score:3, Insightful)
USA, in a pro-democracy stance, still officially recognize it as Burma because ruling military of Burma declared it Myanmar and refused to allow the democratically elected government to take power (1989).
Brilliant (Score:1, Insightful)
"Hey guys, I just got a great idea. How about we make a statement to the most authoritarian and oppressive government on the face of the Earth?"
"I like it. What do you have in mind?"
"Here's what we're going to do. We're going to cut off the entire country from the most democratic medium on the planet and the best source for the free flow of information. We'll kill their internet connection!"
"Kill the free flow of information to an authoritarian nation? Brilliant! I'm sure the people of Burma will really appreciate that."
Re:Burma (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Burma (Score:4, Insightful)
Not to mention that it's amazingly coincidental that the internet goes away days before the first elections in 20 years.
No election observers, no foreign journalists, no connection with internet. All signs point to the junta cutting off its people from the rest of the world.
Re:Brilliant (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Burma (Score:1, Insightful)
which English-speaking people call the Netherlands
Either the Netherlands, or Holland, which just adds to the confusion, since two of the eleven provinces are called Noord Holland and Zuid Holland (north and south), and in general people from the other 9 provinces dont consider themselves hollanders, some will even take offence to the term...
Re:Burma (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Burma (Score:3, Insightful)
Under British administration, Burma was the second-wealthiest country in South-East Asia. It had been the world's largest exporter of rice. During British administration, Burma supplied oil through the Burmah Oil Company. Burma also had a wealth of natural and labor resources. It produced 75% of the world's teak and had a highly literate population. The country was believed to be on the fast track to development. ...
After a parliamentary government was formed in 1948, Prime Minister U Nu disastrously attempted to make Burma a welfare state and adopted central planning. Rice exports fell by two thirds and mineral exports by over 96%. Plans were partly financed by printing money, which led to inflation. The 1962 coup d'état was followed by an economic scheme called the Burmese Way to Socialism, a plan to nationalize all industries, with the exception of agriculture. The catastrophic program turned Burma into one of the world's most impoverished countries. Burma's admittance to Least Developed Country status by the UN in 1987 highlighted its economic bankruptcy. ...
The economy is still rated as the least free in Asia (tied with North Korea). All fundamental market institutions are suppressed. Private enterprises are often co-owned or indirectly owned by state. The corruption watchdog organisation Transparency International in its 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index released on 26 September 2007 ranked Burma the most corrupt country in the world, tied with Somalia.
Dare I say - an example of benevolent colonialism? It's not always bad, y'know. Check out Zimbabwe for another example of a country that's gone down the toilet since the Brits moved out.
Re:All the computers were unable to connect (Score:3, Insightful)