Massive Global Cyberattack Targeting U.S., U.N. Discovered; Experts Blame China

Fox News ^ | August 03, 2011 | N/A

[Freeport]

The world's most extensive case of cyber-espionage, including attacks on U.S. government and U.N. computers, is set to be revealed Wednesday by online security firm McAfee, and analysts are speculating that China is behind the attacks.

The spying was dubbed "Operation Shady RAT," or "remote access tool" by McAfee -- and it led to a massive loss of information that poses a huge economic threat, wrote vice president of threat research Dmitri Alperovitch

"What is happening to all this data — by now reaching petabytes as a whole — is still largely an open question," Alperovitch wrote on a blog detailing the threat. "However, if even a fraction of it is used to build better competing products or beat a competitor at a key negotiation (due to having stolen the other team’s playbook), the loss represents a massive economic threat."

[Iscool]

What China does to us, is very likely being done right back to them, in triplicate.

Ya but what good's it do to learn what we already know???

[Lazamataz]

Ya but what good's it do to learn what we already know???

Well, not to divulge too much, but are you SURE we haven't learned how to crash Chinese aircraft, overload Chinese power grids, cause Chinese nuclear reactors to go haywire, shut down the entire Chinese communication grid, and disable Chinese weapons (including nuclear ones)?

Can you TRULY be sure of that?

:)

[Mariner]

"I say, if true, a 2000 lb'der through the server room is appropriate"

Not necessary.

First, the US is better at this type of activity than anyone, though I'm certain that we have NEVER utilized our skills:)

Second, I'm ALSO sure the perps didn't download any malicious code that would compromise their own systems and data.

I'm sure of it:)

[Lazamataz]

First, the US is better at this type of activity than anyone, though I'm certain that we have NEVER utilized our skills:) Second, I'm ALSO sure the perps didn't download any malicious code that would compromise their own systems and data. I'm sure of it:)

See my #42, and I bet you we both have certain knowledge of various issues. :D

[Rapscallion]

Once upon a time we had US Presidents with enough spine to tell the perp counties to stop or there would be consequences.

A cyber attack can wreck your communications systems, your air traffic control systems, your railroad systems, your satellite systems, your financial systems includiong your banks, and your power grid. It is an act of war and should be treated as such.

[Teflonic]

Loose lips sink ships guys...

[ClearCase_guy]

It is an act of war and should be treated as such.

True. But I think Janet Napolitano came out and said that such attacks would be treated as civil offenses.

[MeganC]

China’s a better friend to us than the free traders are. That’s not saying much, though.

[GeronL]

I can definitely support the attack on UN computers. lol

[GeronL]

Its pretty clear that Obie Won won’t care if China attacks Taiwan

[GeronL]

China wouldn’t be supid enough to attack us when their economy pretty much depends on us. Taiwan is a different story, they will be happy to invade that brave little island 99 miles from shore.

[grumpygresh]

If they target the White House, I’m all for it. But, alas our enemies are not interested in this approach. This reminds me of the later stages of WW2 when the allies gave up on targeting Hitler because they knew that Hitler was doing more to contribute to Germany’s demise than anyone else.

[Excellence]

(RAT stands for "remote access tool," a type of software that hackers and security experts use to access computer networks from afar).

I'd say it's the 0 himself.

[unixfox]

Looks like as time goes on, and it is coming out more that China has a corrupt banking system, it is shown that its economy is really built on a “house of cards”.

Well, so is ours. But Zer0 is gonna fix that because he has a plan dontchaknow.

[hannibaal]

Ive been to 4 university campuses, 1 in texas, 2 in canada and 1 in australia. The engineering departments are overwhelmingly chinese and indian, even in Texas. If they dont already have us beat in knowledge then they soon will, they already have us beat in technical know-how since we outsource everything to be built over there. We will have to rely on getting those foreigners in our engineering faculties to stay here, because most of our american boys and girls are more concerned with gender studies and sports science and other made up degrees.

[factoryrat]

Unfortunately, a lot of the stuff they counerfeit does end up on the US market, and they’re working their way up the food chain with the products they copy. I had to replace a hydraulic valve the other night, and the replacement part was a chinese brand that was identical to the German brand it replaced. The only difference I could find was the logo on the nameplate. It failed in service after less than 2 days, due to internal leakage. A call to the German company confirmed that they have been dealing with these counterfeits for a while, and told us what to look for when buying their products.

[printhead]

You left out the photo of zero hanging curtains.

[Rapscallion]

Janet Napolitano came out and said that such attacks would be treated as civil offenses.

Big Sis is soft in the head, a liberal, and a voice for Obama....Nothing credible there and her statement proves she is a light-weight pol.

[grey_whiskers]

I refer to him as a "SMOC" --

Scrawny Metrosexual Of Colour.

Cheers!

[_a_0_0_]

petabytes

wouldn't surprise me if they were in on it.