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Officials: Iran has laid groundwork for extensive cyberattacks on U.S.
NBC News via MSN ^ | 20 Jul 2018 | Courtney Kube; Carol E. Lee; Dan De Luce; Ken Dilanian

Posted on 07/23/2018 1:45:02 PM PDT by blueplum

ASPEN, Colo. — Iranian hackers have laid the groundwork to carry out extensive cyberattacks on U.S. and European infrastructure and private companies, and the U.S. is warning allies, hardening its defenses and weighing a counterattack, say multiple senior U.S. officials. {snip}

While Russia may be the most aggressive, multiple senior U.S. officials said Iran is making preparations that would enable denial of service attacks against thousands of electric grids, water plants, and health care and technology companies in the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and other countries in Europe and the Middle East. {snip}

On July 13, Coats told the Hudson Institute in Washington that the warning signs about coming cyber threats are similar to the signs the U.S. saw before Sept. 11, 2001. "The warning lights are blinking red again," said Coats.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Russia; Syria
KEYWORDS: china; coats; cyberwarfare; iran; iraniannukes; mullahloversonfr; russia; syria; trump
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pertinent background as to why Trump is addressing Iran directly
1 posted on 07/23/2018 1:45:02 PM PDT by blueplum
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To: blueplum

As soon as they upgrade the Abacus


2 posted on 07/23/2018 1:49:51 PM PDT by butlerweave
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: blueplum

For one I am tired about all this cyber activity against the US et al. I see no reason for this activity to continue without response.....MAJOR, DEVASTATING RESPONCE.

We, the US, could offer our hackers a bounty for bringing down a foreign hacking site or damaging the offending countries digital infrastructure. Fight fire with fire and put our hackers to good use.


4 posted on 07/23/2018 2:03:21 PM PDT by Forty-Niner (The barely bare, berry Bear formily known as Ursus Arctos Horrilibis (or U.A. Californicus))
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To: blueplum

It’s easy to block their ASNs. They might not want to F’ with the USA.


5 posted on 07/23/2018 2:04:02 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: blueplum

Obama/Kerry gave them all the passwords but Trump’s Crew changed them and it’s driving the Iranians nuts


6 posted on 07/23/2018 2:07:18 PM PDT by butlerweave
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To: blueplum

Partially paid for by obama the apostates payments...

An opportunity to use Cyber Attack as a reason for war.


7 posted on 07/23/2018 2:14:11 PM PDT by elbook
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To: blueplum

A couple of EMP pops over Teheran (non nuclear) will collapse the mullahs’ command & control, which will be followed by mass uprisings & revolution with Pres. Trump offering encouragement to the Iranian people this time, UNLIKE OBAMA!!


8 posted on 07/23/2018 2:16:11 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: CodeToad
It’s easy to block their ASNs. They might not want to F’ with the USA.

Flying carpets will fall out of the sky.

9 posted on 07/23/2018 2:19:06 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (Marxism: Wonderful theory, wrong species)
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To: blueplum

“attacks against thousands of electric grids, water plants”

For myself, I ask why in the hell are components of the electric grids and water systems DIRECTLY Internet connected to begin with.

I can see the humans involved having Internet connections as to communications with each other, but those should be separate systems from those actually doing the controls, with NO connection between them.

Disconnet the kinds of connections that make cyber hacking of the electric grid possible. Hire more humans who have multiple montioring and communications systems that have no electronic connections between them, with all functions operated by humans telling a system what to do, a system that is not connected to anything else anywhere.

Many Wall Street traders have long operated with multiple monitors on their desks for years, with some monitors connected to internal systems and some connected directly to the trading floor.


10 posted on 07/23/2018 2:33:01 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: butlerweave

I believe Obama and his minions (thousands of them) still in government positions and bureaucracies are still doing damage. Pray without ceasing.


11 posted on 07/23/2018 2:35:45 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: blueplum

NBC News, America’s Pravda


12 posted on 07/23/2018 2:45:34 PM PDT by McGruff (We want very much to have a strong Russia - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton)
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To: Wuli
#10: "why in the hell are components of the electric grids and water systems DIRECTLY Internet connected to begin with"

Bingo.

13 posted on 07/23/2018 2:49:19 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (MAGA in the mornin', MAGA in the evenin', MAGA at suppertime . . .)
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To: blueplum

By Iran, you mean the American intelligence community.


14 posted on 07/23/2018 2:56:35 PM PDT by Souled_Out (Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people.)
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To: Wuli

“For myself, I ask why in the hell are components of the electric grids and water systems DIRECTLY Internet connected to begin with.”

I don’t think they’re using the internet alone. The internet is probably the primary comms path between nodes on the grid since it’s safe and effective most of the time. However, if something appears to be going screwy, it probably falls over to a slower, but more secure / closed circuit means of communication (encrypted satellite, comms over power lines, etc). The only reason I suspect they don’t use the “safest” means of comms all of the time is due to latency.

If they are using the internet alone to keep the power grid active, the people in charge should be fired immediately.


15 posted on 07/23/2018 3:05:39 PM PDT by edh
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To: Wuli

I confess I know little about our computer systems, but the time to try to see that our “EVERYTHING” isnt all linked up, is long gone. Anything that has been built in the last several decades, is run on computer systems. Of course, most modern inventions wouldn’t be possible without them, but the protestations of we luddites fell on deaf ears. There is no way to operate most of what we have, without computers communicating with each other.
Now they tell us that, basically, ANYTHING can be hacked. As I said, I don’t know much, but if all that hardware China, Russia, and other bad actors have been lobbing into space for years, isn’t put there to work against us, and other western nations, I would be very much surprised. How much defensive equipment we’ve sent up, ourselves, I’m sure I don’t know, but I’ll bet we didn’t do much to protect ourselves during the Obama administration.
Big brother has been here for a long time.
Now! Who wants one of those hot new security systems in their homes, which connects everything we own, everything we do, and everything we say, all up together? (Unfortunately, plenty of people do). There’s an app for that!
Pray without ceasing.


16 posted on 07/23/2018 3:12:57 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Wuli

This is why our nukes are backed by FLOPPIES!


17 posted on 07/23/2018 3:15:35 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: butlerweave

Cyberattacks need to be responded to with Mega Tons. I believe 20 thirty toners will work. Oh Hell make it 40.


18 posted on 07/23/2018 3:20:09 PM PDT by carmen2017
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To: Wuli

Most Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants are controlled by a SCADA System (Site Control and Data Acquisition) via Computers that control: Pumps, Tank Levels, Valves, Chemical Feeder Pumps, Warning Sensors, Real-time Water Quality Sensors, Pager or Phone calls to Operaters if the System is small enough to not require an Onsite 24/7/365(6) Operaters.

The same for Electric Plants.

Some Systems use Radios to connect with the SCADA to Remote Sites, some use Internet Connections for speed and cost reasons. Most Systems are on the internet to allow Operaters to control the System from home or wherever the Operaters may be. Do You know how fast the Public reacts when the water doesn’t come out of the faucet or smells/tastes bad ?

I’ll tell you from experience that the phone number for the Plant Office is NUMBER 1 on the Speed Dial when something is going wrong. The rest of the time when the System is working fine Everybody forgets about the People that spend 12 hours at a time running things.

Trust Me 99 times out of 100 We are already working on getting the problem fixed.

As far as terrorscum if they hack into the SCADA the first thing that they are going to do is Lockout everyone else and then they can overdose/underdose the Chemicals, overflow or empty Storage Tanks on a Water Treatment Plant and a Wastewater Plant the same AND they could make the System backup and flood the City or on the opposite end they could dump Raw Sewage into the Lakes or Rivers leading to Contamination of the Water Source for the Water Treatment Plant.


19 posted on 07/23/2018 3:24:13 PM PDT by mabarker1 (congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!!)
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To: Forty-Niner

Okay.

It should be noted that atomic weapons exploded in space can devastate the electronic infrastructure of a a small nation or continent dependent on yield and height of the explosion. A cyber-war on the USA by Iran would be unwise.

Who would retaliate? Russia would not as we as they have the ability to take each other out.


20 posted on 07/23/2018 3:30:20 PM PDT by cpdiii (Cane Cutter, Roughneck, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist: THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
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