I stopped watching or reading the news, including my sports. The dialog was so petty and like a bad reality show. When I do get an email that catches my attention, I follow it up and get exposed to what I wanted plus the ugly side of having a billion or more connected to each other’s “content”. But that is a story for another post: [or not}. I read this news on State sponsored hacking but should be called Cyberwar. But, at least there is some information getting out. It takes a combination of knowledge to see what is happening under the water, and knowing that the fin that is reported on is, yes I will be so corny, is like the fin of a great white, That is not the right medafore. It is like rust, spreading like a virus; eating away at our entire country’s foundations. Termintes. Iceburgs. whatever.
For this TechRepublic cover story, Steve Ranger explains why deterring cyberattacks by state-backed hackers is complicated, and why the stakes keep getting higher.
This download provides the magazine version of the article as a free PDF for registered TechRepublic and ZDNet members. The online version of this story is available here. [1editor note: this takes you to the tech republic.com site but you still have to select to download the PDF story. I did not do that out of suspcion that clever people would install some malware in a pdf about the problems of malware. Too much John Le Carre]
From the story:
In the spring of 2015, faced with external cyberattacks on the US of increasing frequency and severity, President Obama made a dramatic announcement.
The level of hacking and cyber-espionage against the US had created an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy” of the country, said the President, who declared a national emergency to deal with the threat. This executive order allowed the administration to pursue sanctions against those who attacked US critical infrastructure or stole secrets.
Since then the national emergency has been extended three times (it must be reconfirmed every year), but the attacks against the US and its allies continue. Indeed, the ongoing state of emergency did little to deter the most spectacular anti-US hacking campaign in recent years: Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.[italics are mine]
Russia is not alone in pursuing cyberattacks–which show little sign of stopping–to advance its aims: The US government and its allies have long complained about the behaviour of China, Iran, and North Korea, too.
Despite years of sanctions, indictments, and other attempts to combat hackers, the attacks have continued. And experts have warned it could be 20 years before the situation is brought under control. So why can’t the hackers be stopped
[1editor note: this takes you to the tech republic.com site but you still have to select to download the PDF story. I did not do that out of suspcion that clever people would install some malware in a pdf about the problems of malware. Too much John Le Carre]
So I would like any feedback on those less nervous.
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