Posted on 09/14/2016 9:55:02 AM PDT by amorphous
The pillars that provide the basic infrastructure of the internet are being probed by an unknown entity that is probing for that point where the foundation cracks and the internet breaks.
The internet’s critical and underlying basic infrastructure is being probed by an unknown attacker who is – patiently – looking for vulnerabilities, revealed cybersecurity expert and cryptographer Bruce Schneier.
A board member at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Tor project, Schneier is also the chief technology officer at Resilient, a cybersecurity firm recently acquired by IBM.
In a blog post, Schneier states that some of the companies that run “critical pieces of the internet” are being probed by an unknown quantity, with “precisely calibrated attacks.”,
Much like raptors did fences on Isla Nublar, these attacks are systematic and well-planned, seeking to understand the defenses employed by these vitally-important companies.
“These probes take the form of precisely calibrated attacks designed to determine exactly how well these companies can defend themselves, and what would be required to take them down,” Schneier wrote.
He wrote:
One week, the attack would start at a particular level of attack and slowly ramp up before stopping. The next week, it would start at that higher point and continue. And so on, along those lines, as if the attacker were looking for the exact point of failure.
In speculating, it’s possible that the companies Schneier is referring to include registrars (the companies that provide domains like .com etc.) and DNS providers.
Schneier’s findings are in line with a DDoS trends report [PDF] by Verisign, the registrar for domains such as .com and .net. If Verisign is taken down, your favorite websites and even your emails are likely to stop working.
Furthermore, one of the companies even revealed that – in addition to DDoS attacks – intrusions that attempted to modify and manipulate internet addresses and tunnels, were also discovered. Again, to test the company or its security defense’s response times.
Someone is extensively testing the core defensive capabilities of the companies that provide critical Internet services.
No Mischief Here
Schneier looks beyond activists and cybercriminals as the instigators of these systematic and calibrated attacks, pointing instead to the forces of cyberespionage. Such capabilities are, as history shows, possessed by the likes of China, Russia, North Korea and the United States, among others.
He wrote:
It feels like a nation’s military cybercommand trying to calibrate its weaponry in the case of cyberwar. It reminds me of the US’s Cold War program of flying high-altitude planes over the Soviet Union to force their air-defense systems to turn on, to map their capabilities.
If the assertion does come true someday, the world could see an unparalleled blackout that could disrupt the way we live in the present day, to the very core.
And what can we do about it?
“Nothing, really,” Schneier added.
Nothing until we are aware and talking about it and do some probing of our own to look for that unknown intruder.
Maybe NOT relevant, but seems to me there was a mysterious probe, as well some transferring of massive amounts of funds just prior to the economic collapse in 2008.
There’s too much information going on out there!
Analogy: imagine the socio-economic impact if...
All street names just disappeared, leaving only latitude/longitude for locations.
Every interstate highway bridge was blown up.
That’s the idea here. Names like “freerepublic.com” suddenly mean nothing for internet navigation, replaced by “135.68.24.9” which are technically meaningful but few know. Traffic normally handled by major “backbone” infrastructure is suddenly routed down low-capacity lines. Instant universal traffic jam.
Yes, plus practically all ordering/restocking of brick and mortars, mom&pops, are done via the internet nowadays. Most suppliers have no where near the people to take orders over the phone anymore - should they be forced to.
WilCo Out.
Add in that we have a new generation that don’t know how everyday things work, never dressed meat, don’t write much and can’t do math in their head. Heck, 5 minutes of silence drives them nuts.
That’s what I’m thinking. Can’t let the little people have the tools that will eliminate the need for us, TPTB.
“Internet breaks” is like “interstate breaks”, and about as likely. Possible, but only with enormous skill & effort. If it happens, Netflix will be the last thing you’ll be worrying about.
That's Sooo true! It's the first time in my life, that I can remember, boredom being fatal.
Bkmrk.
My notebook went dead last night for no reason. I thought maybe my nootbook was shot. Then i realized i bumped the reset on the on my surge protector and my battery went completely dead. Oops.:)
“Add in that we have a new generation that don’t know how everyday things work, never dressed meat, “
Lots of people have never dressed meat——it has nothing to do with age.
.
Obama to be given the right to shut down the internet with 'kill switch'
I have a not as large as I'd like generator (3500W) which will fire up a TV and DVD player for entertainment and brew coffee when I feel lazy
Yep...I can only imagine who will strike down our freedom using internet. All news as we know it will cease to exist unless it is approved by some world dictators.
Mr. K wrote: "just make sure you have seeds, canned and dried good, toilet paper, and some non-power tools and the wherewithal to defend it.
Most of all, secure an access to clean, potable water.
oh geez...! i fogot that
I have invested in a good water filter system (and extra filter cartriges)
I can take water from a creek and run it through this and its great
Much more than you think. All those little point of sale terminals use the internet to validate credit cards and other payment mechanisms. Most of the inventory management functions are handled through B2B (business to business) applications over the internet. Many, if not most office phones at larger companies are VOIP (voice over IP) over the internet.
If the internet is down, a lot of business is dead. Much more than most folk would imagine. You may be able to buy groceries, depending upon whether or not UPC codes are referenced via a local database (updated nightly over the internet), or are direct call-outs to external internet-connected hosts.
Only if your local broadcaster doesn't get their program over the internet. Might even affect them if they get it from satellites because of command/control functions.
0bama?
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