Indonesian Intelligence Agency Compromised in Suspected Chinese Hack (therecord.media) 26
Chinese hackers have breached the internal networks of at least ten Indonesian government ministries and agencies, including computers from Indonesia's primary intelligence service, the Badan Intelijen Negara (BIN). From a report: The intrusion, discovered by Insikt Group, the threat research division of Recorded Future, has been linked to Mustang Panda, a Chinese threat actor known for its cyber-espionage campaigns targeting the Southeast Asian region. Insikt researchers first discovered this campaign in April this year, when they detected PlugX malware command and control (C&C) servers, operated by the Mustang Panda group, communicating with hosts inside the networks of the Indonesian government. These communications were later traced back to at least March 2021. The intrusion point and delivery method of the malware are still unclear.
Wow (Score:2)
What secrets can they find out from espionage against Indonesia? Where to go diving in Bali? How to make Nasi Goreng? Hmmm .. actually that might be worth it.
Re:Wow (Score:5, Informative)
What secrets can they find out from espionage against Indonesia?
China and Indonesia have territorial disputes in the South China Sea, including the Natuna Islands and a large swath of EEZ that contains fish and oil.
Indonesia and China also have poor relations because of discrimination against ethnically Chinese Indonesians [wikipedia.org] and anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia.
Re: (Score:1)
China and Indonesia doesn't have poor relations. In fact they are relatively great in comparison to e.g. Vietnam. Trade is doing very well between the two states. Indonesia was one of the first states to use e.g. China's vaccines. The dispute in the South China seas is considered relatively small in comparison to e.g. Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam seeks 60% or so of the S. China seas, while Philippines 50% or so.
However China does worry if e.g. Indonesia decides to host US troops, which the US h
Re: (Score:2)
China does worry if e.g. Indonesia decides to host US troops
That is unlikely. America just lost a war and is heading into an isolationist funk.
The normal pattern is:
1. Lose a war
2. Isolate for 20 years.
3. Start engaging with the world again for a decade.
4. Get involved in another hopeless war.
5. Go to 1.
We just lost the war in Afghanistan, so America is in an isolationist mood.
Around 2040, the memories of Iraq and Afghanistan will have faded.
In 2050, give or take a few years, America will get involved in yet another idiotic war.
Re: (Score:2)
You were doing pretty good when you noted the war was intended to kill certain people, who are all dead.
Then you went off the rails.
It is a legal requirement to create stability before withdrawing when you become an occupying power. You're required to try, anyway. We tried for too long, but it was always going to be a shit show when we left, and the Afghan government kept saying they weren't ready.
Re: (Score:2)
so the mission got extended to spend way more money on fru-fru stuff like "spreading democracy."
The mission got extended to make the MIC a lot of money selling Afghanistan a bunch of weapons and weapons systems, which is now in the hands of the Taliban. The really dangerous stuff is mostly in the form of aircraft they will probably not be able to operate for long, if at all, so that's something anyway. But who knows who they'll sell it to, which is still a concern.
Now, who profited most from those arms sales?
Re: (Score:2)
>Why did we go to war in Afghanistan? To get rid of Osama bin Laden."
I just did some googling on the reasons behind the US's illegal war and invasion of Afghanistan against their kinda allies, the Taliban. Everyone from the NY times to Britannica are all saying basically the same thing : "the ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, perpetrators of the September 11 attacks". Perpetrators of 9/11 ?
That's not what I remember. At the time,
Re: (Score:2)
Not sure which wars you are thinking of; I can only think of the Vietnam war. And about twenty years after that, the Soviet Union fell.
Now what were you saying?
Re: (Score:1)
What secrets can they find out from espionage against Indonesia?
China and Indonesia have territorial disputes in the South China Sea, including the Natuna Islands and a large swath of EEZ that contains fish and oil.
Indonesia and China also have poor relations because of discrimination against ethnically Chinese Indonesians [wikipedia.org] and anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia.
discrimination is sporadic not systematic, like, when things get tough somebody must be blamed for that, but i doubt that would sour diplomatic relationship, unless you don't see china sends formal protest afaict.
agreed with op. nothing worth stealing from indonesia. if you ask politely they'll give it away voluntarily - eastern hospitality and all that :)
Re: (Score:2)
Username checks out
position vacant (Score:1)
Act of war (Score:2)
Why is an attack like this not treated as an act of war ?
Re: (Score:1)
China has stolen billions of dollars in IP from USA businesses and still USA does nothing, in fact, they negotiate away our companies IP rights that are hacked in exchange for international trade as Obama did during the G4 Summit.
As far as the people in power are concerned, it's a net gain to be hacked by China. More secure firms survive and cheaper pirated goods.
Re: (Score:1)
Do you even realize how insanely brainwashed you sound, when saying things like "stolen billions of dollars in IP"?
I don't know where to even begin, to explain reality to you . . .
How about you start defining "ownership", "theft" and "property" in a scientifically and logically rigorous manner?
Or how about learning basic physics, like causality, for starters?
You *will* logically conclude, that "i.p." is in fact a crime scheme based on monopolism and artificial (imaginary) scarcity, to steal and rob
Re: (Score:2)
"How about you start defining "ownership", "theft" and "property" in a scientifically and logically rigorous manner?" Last I saw, those were defined in a legal manner. IANAL, but I think the legal definitions are probably pretty rigorous. In any case, science has almost nothing to do with it.
As for "learning basic physics, like causality": afaict, physics has little to do with any notion of causality that would bear on the problem of IP theft. If you disagree, then please illuminate me.
"information is n
Re: (Score:1)
Do you even realize how insanely brainwashed you sound, when saying things like "stolen billions of dollars in IP"?
Sounds like projection from where I sit.
Once hacked firms go out of business, they get acquired and further centralize the economy, giving the government more power over the economy. What does it matter about your academic definitions for real work that goes into developing products when the ability to bring those products to the market is controlled by a few very large companies? If this kind of meta-layer is so abundant and worthless, then you have nothing to complain about.
Obviously, your complaint is a
Re: (Score:2)
Why is an attack like this not treated as an act of war ?
Because everybody does it.
Espionage has never been considered an act of war.
Wars are often caused by misjudgment and misunderstandings. Countries militarize out of exaggerated fears of their enemies' strength. Spying prevents that. Spying is good.
Re: (Score:2)
By who? And what can they do about it?
Re: (Score:2)
Why is an attack like this not treated as an act of war ?
Because China is bigger than Indonesia and a war wouldn't help the victim at all.
Never Say Anything (Score:2)
Oh! Which side to side with, America? (Score:1)
The extremist Muslims or the Chinese?
Either way, I will need more popcorn to enjoy people tearing themselves apart in these comments.
Give me your delicious tears! XD
Re: (Score:2)
I can't be on the side of the non-extremist Muslims? Or at least feel that China is giving them the shaft.
For the record, if I were the Taliban, I would think twice about assuming the enemy of my enemy is my friend.