US Nuclear weapons R&D labs slammed by massive cyber attack

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Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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Where does this notion come from that we can effortlessly trace the hacker and then punish them. Any hacker able to mount an attack that sophisticated will hack into some other computer network and then all we bomb is some ignorant smuck who unknowingly let their computer get owned.

Wireless networks with insufficient protections are easy targets, if a hacker owns a number of them, they need not use any such network twice in such an attack.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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So, once again, the double standard - cyber attacks on *us* justify killing people; we or our allies doing a cyber attack on Iran greatly affecting THEIR national security far more (imaging the US nuclear arsenal being taken out of commission for years), they have no right to kill Americans for that.
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
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So, once again, the double standard - cyber attacks on *us* justify killing people; we or our allies doing a cyber attack on Iran greatly affecting THEIR national security far more (imaging the US nuclear arsenal being taken out of commission for years), they have no right to kill Americans for that.

The fallacy in your argument is putting the Iranian government on the same level as ours. Iran having a nuclear arsenal is a threat in that they might actually use it for petty, irrational purposes. You don't give an adult with the brain of a child the keys to a car just because he wants it and is over 18.

Besides, If we caught a spy attempting to steal top secret info on our nuclear arsenal, wouldn't we jail/execute him? Why should we stop just because the spy made it to another country?

Now I'm not advocating carpet-bombing Bejing over a cyber attack, but if we can trace the attack to a building and have confirmed intel, by all means lob a cruise missile into it.
 

wuliheron

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
3,536
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Disrupting and rerouting networks is what amateurs do. The real trick is getting inside the network and stealing information. The Chinese may have gotten a look at our military traffic, but all the important stuff is encrypted. You didn't really think the government sent classified information through the internet unencrypted did you? You might as well broadcast over the airwaves.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
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So, once again, the double standard - cyber attacks on *us* justify killing people; we or our allies doing a cyber attack on Iran greatly affecting THEIR national security far more (imaging the US nuclear arsenal being taken out of commission for years), they have no right to kill Americans for that.

Like I always say when you throw out these sorts of analogies: They're more than welcome to try.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Where does this notion come from that we can effortlessly trace the hacker and then punish them. Any hacker able to mount an attack that sophisticated will hack into some other computer network and then all we bomb is some ignorant smuck who unknowingly let their computer get owned.

Wireless networks with insufficient protections are easy targets, if a hacker owns a number of them, they need not use any such network twice in such an attack.

Until we destroyed so many that either there were no more open networks to get "owned" either through complete destruction, or by a deterrent effect caused by the first few sites being bombed making others realize they need to tighten up their own security.
 

Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
3
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Israel could well be in the running too as the hackers.

But I agree, there may be something vastly wrong with the computer security at Oak Ridge. But maybe not if no sensitive data was compromised.

The oak ridge folks were kinda mum on that subject, even if they confessed the hack took a full eight days to clean out.
Holy sh*t I've never seen a guy so hard in the pants for Israel. Are the Jews responsible for the vibrating in my car's brakes right now?

Anyway, China needs to piss off, but we keep buying their stuff, we are directly funding this kind of behavior, assuming it is them. I doubt it's France or Canada, eh?
 

wuliheron

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
3,536
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I posted regarding this.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2159414&highlight=china


There's little doubt that the responsible party is China. If it's any consolation we read what's been done to our systems. I suspect that China has had it's share of intrusions.


That's like saying you suspect the NSA and CIA have spies. Hacking into computers and water boarding people are some of least objectionable things these guys do. What comes around goes around and around and around and part of their job is to figure out just how far they can push the envelope.
 

DirkGently1

Senior member
Mar 31, 2011
904
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I think the Chinese are positioning themselves to fuck shit up in the event that everything goes pear shaped!
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
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http://www.isssource.com/oak-ridge-fights-off-cyber-attack/


As many of you know, Oak Ridge and Y-12 manufacturers and researches nuclear weapons and their components. It is also home to some of the most powerful supercomputers in the nation as well as cutting edge energy and climate change research.

Looks like a targeted phishing attack, possibly browser exploit? Somehow, I doubt they were after our nation's climate change research...

Care to place any bets on which nation's "rogue, misguided patriots" committed this attack?

Chinese IP space on the other end...
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
81
Israel could well be in the running too as the hackers.

But I agree, there may be something vastly wrong with the computer security at Oak Ridge. But maybe not if no sensitive data was compromised.

The oak ridge folks were kinda mum on that subject, even if they confessed the hack took a full eight days to clean out.

Umm Israel can just ask...
 

1prophet

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
5,313
534
126
Disrupting and rerouting networks is what amateurs do. The real trick is getting inside the network and stealing information. The Chinese may have gotten a look at our military traffic, but all the important stuff is encrypted. You didn't really think the government sent classified information through the internet unencrypted did you? You might as well broadcast over the airwaves.


That arrogant my Titanic security is unsinkable mentality is the Achilles heel that has brought down many an empire and country.
 

Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
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11,600
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I love how everyone has ignored that the classified networks aren't connected externally at all. They might have stolen some facebook passwords though.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,330
126
So, once again, the double standard - cyber attacks on *us* justify killing people; we or our allies doing a cyber attack on Iran greatly affecting THEIR national security far more (imaging the US nuclear arsenal being taken out of commission for years), they have no right to kill Americans for that.

Nothing to do with their "right" to do it and everything to do with their ability.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
So, once again, the double standard - cyber attacks on *us* justify killing people; we or our allies doing a cyber attack on Iran greatly affecting THEIR national security far more (imaging the US nuclear arsenal being taken out of commission for years), they have no right to kill Americans for that.

Iran is welcome to attack the United States or Israel if they so please, but they know what the consequences of such a thing will be, just as we know the consequences of getting into a shooting war with a major oil producer during a shaky economic recovery.

Also, there is a good chance America was not involved with Stuxnet, no one has claimed responsibility. But, most people suspect Mossad (Israel).
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
26,350
12,488
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Nothing to do with their "right" to do it and everything to do with their ability.

Anything classified going outside of the facility would have to go through SIPERNET encrypted. The classified stuff will not be connected to the outside or the "low side" of their networks.