Current Events > So China is basically able to hack the shit out of our country at any time

(+) Yeah! (+)

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with key U.S. and international government agencies published a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory today on malicious activity by a Peoples Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor, known as Volt Typhoon, to compromise critical infrastructure and associated actions that should be urgently undertaken by all organizations.

CISA and its U.S. Government partners have confirmed that this group of PRC state-sponsored cyber actors has compromised entities across multiple critical infrastructure sectors in cyberspace, including communications, energy, transportation, and water and wastewater, in the United States and its territories. The data and information CISA and its U.S. Government partners have gathered strongly suggest the PRC is positioning itself to launch destructive cyber-attacks that would jeopardize the physical safety of Americans and impede military readiness in the event of a major crisis or conflict with the United States.

https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/us-and-international-partners-publish-cybersecurity-advisory-peoples-republic-china-state-sponsored

Not even our wastewater is safe.

Yup

I'm now imagining a scene where, during a full scale war with China, every toilet in America starts spewing out sewage water.

Yeah, but it don't them any good.

So are they going to do anything about it? And no, I'm not saying we should declare war on China before somebody gets that impression. Still, something needs to be done. At least upgrade our security standards at least, but I feel even that's an almost impossibility given how inept our government is.

Southernfatman posted...

So are they going to do anything about it? And no, I'm not saying we should declare war on China before somebody gets that impression. Still, something needs to be done. At least upgrade our security standards at least, but I feel even that's an almost impossibility given how inept our government is.

USA should be investing more into cybersecurity. But whatever reason Congress treats the issue like a joke.

Old news.

Back in 2022 or 2023 there was some such about the Pentagon complaining it was operating under "kindergarten grade" cybersecurity.

Technically we can too

IHeartRadiation posted...

Old news.

Back in 2022 or 2023 there was some such about the Pentagon complaining it was operating under "kindergarten grade" cybersecurity.

It's not old news though, it's still current news because it's never been fixed.

Solar_Crimson posted...

I'm now imagining a scene where, during a full scale war with China, every toilet in America starts spewing out sewage water.

This is your daily reminder to say NO to "smart" technology.
No to smart homes.
No to smart cars.
No to smart tvs.
No to smart thermostats.
No to smart fridges that can text you if the ice is low.
No to smart garages that let Amazon drivers open the doors to leave your package inside.
No to smart condoms that let you compare "performance data" with your friends (yes, they exist...).

The fewer things in your life and your home that can be accessed remotely, the better!
Smart tech is for dumb people that need the tech to think for them.
How much "convenience" is worth giving up your privacy and autonomy?
The "internet of things" will be the end of everything.

streamofthesky posted...

This is your daily reminder to say NO to "smart" technology.
No to smart homes.
No to smart cars.
No to smart tvs.
No to smart thermostats.
No to smart fridges that can text you if the ice is low.
No to smart garages that let Amazon drivers open the doors to leave your package inside.
No to smart condoms that let you compare "performance data" with your friends (yes, they exist...).

The fewer things in your life and your home that can be accessed remotely, the better!
Smart tech is for dumb people that need the tech to think for them.
How much "convenience" is worth giving up your privacy and autonomy?
The "internet of things" will be the end of everything.

this would have never happened had we just stuck with carrier pigeons

John McAfee was saying this back in like 2016. It was pretty much his platform for his failed presidential campaign.

streamofthesky posted...

This is your daily reminder to say NO to "smart" technology.
No to smart homes.
No to smart cars.
No to smart tvs.
No to smart thermostats.
No to smart fridges that can text you if the ice is low.
No to smart garages that let Amazon drivers open the doors to leave your package inside.
No to smart condoms that let you compare "performance data" with your friends (yes, they exist...).

The fewer things in your life and your home that can be accessed remotely, the better!
Smart tech is for dumb people that need the tech to think for them.
How much "convenience" is worth giving up your privacy and autonomy?
The "internet of things" will be the end of everything.

Preach!

streamofthesky posted...

This is your daily reminder to say NO to "smart" technology.
No to smart homes.
No to smart cars.
No to smart tvs.
No to smart thermostats.
No to smart fridges that can text you if the ice is low.
No to smart garages that let Amazon drivers open the doors to leave your package inside.
No to smart condoms that let you compare "performance data" with your friends (yes, they exist...).

The fewer things in your life and your home that can be accessed remotely, the better!
Smart tech is for dumb people that need the tech to think for them.
How much "convenience" is worth giving up your privacy and autonomy?
The "internet of things" will be the end of everything.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/835968ec.png

Maybe we should just all get along.

this shouldn't be a surprise at all. they've known they can't defeat our military for decades now, but they can take out our infrastructure and watch the country collapse in weeks. even quicker if they stop sending us food exports.

but we have republicans in congress who think the biggest threat to national security is gay people while they also back a literal traitor for office

streamofthesky posted...

This is your daily reminder to say NO to "smart" technology.
No to smart homes.
No to smart cars.
No to smart tvs.
No to smart thermostats.
No to smart fridges that can text you if the ice is low.
No to smart garages that let Amazon drivers open the doors to leave your package inside.
No to smart condoms that let you compare "performance data" with your friends (yes, they exist...).

The fewer things in your life and your home that can be accessed remotely, the better!
Smart tech is for dumb people that need the tech to think for them.
How much "convenience" is worth giving up your privacy and autonomy?
The "internet of things" will be the end of everything.

Why are you on the internet?

Maybe I'm just old fashioned but I've never felt the need to have "smart" devices.
(Besides a "smart" phone, but does that term really apply given every phone nowadays has all those features? I'm talking about the "okay Google" and "hey Alexa" type devices.)

so like how are critical sections of infrastructure so easily compromised?

Why is this not something thats brought up more?

From my understanding, this is basically the biggest counter for anyone who wants to challenge the US; most aren't stupid enough to believe they could beat the US military in direct combat, but cyber-warfare is a completely different story. Also why the Dark Web has a supposedly high Russian presence.

McSame_as_Bush posted...

Volt Typhoon

what a name

Congress should be addressing cybersecurity, but instead we get performative bullshit from the GOP like impeaching a cabinet secretary over policy or declaring a resolution that Donald Trump is super manly and not a criminal at all. Because who cares if we are secure when there are elections to win!

TheLiarParadox posted...

what a name

https://youtu.be/QNdteAzfbvY

Background_Guy posted...

Why are you on the internet?

Tech literate people are allowed to use the internet

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

so like how are critical sections of infrastructure so easily compromised?

Why is this not something thats brought up more?

literally everything is run by the internet these days. and our cybersecurity is garbage because that costs money

all the malware ransom lockdown attacks the last couple years are a test run. when there's a thousand of those happening in one day our society won't be able to handle it

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

so like how are critical sections of infrastructure so easily compromised?

Why is this not something thats brought up more?

Part of me thinks its mostly just manufactured drama. China hacking our infrastructures now would be a inconvenience at best.

That and its brought up semi regularly but nothing ever done about it.

The problem is most cyber security begins and ends at digital entry points. Bypass that and there's basically nothing serious stopping you from doing whatever you want.

thronedfire2 posted...

literally everything is run by the internet these days. and our cybersecurity is garbage because that costs money

all the malware ransom lockdown attacks the last couple years are a test run. when there's a thousand of those happening in one day our society won't be able to handle it

Yeah, a lot of America's infrastructures almost always come back to "no one wants to spend the money". They're things everyone uses & considers valuable, but politicians & businesses are too cheap to spend the money on maintaining them, instead wanting someone else to foot the costs. Most of America's infrastructure won't see repair/replacement/improvement until the current setup is so near or completely collapses, they HAVE to.

Yeah, I really hope you all can function without the Internet. How many of you have cars or trucks that are connected to the Wi-Fi now? I bet they can stop all of those, right?

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

so like how are critical sections of infrastructure so easily compromised?

Why is this not something thats brought up more?

The sewage treatment plant in my town runs on Windows XP