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Submitted via IRC for SoyCow3196
A cyberattack could wreak destruction comparable to a nuclear weapon
People around the world may be worried about nuclear tensions rising, but I think they're missing the fact that a major cyberattack could be just as damaging—and hackers are already laying the groundwork.
With the U.S. and Russia pulling out of a key nuclear weapons pact—and beginning to develop new nuclear weapons—plus Iran tensions and North Korea again test-launching missiles, the global threat to civilization is high. Some fear a new nuclear arms race.
That threat is serious—but another could be as serious, and is less visible to the public. So far, most of the well-known hacking incidents, even those with foreign government backing, have done little more than steal data. Unfortunately, there are signs that hackers have placed malicious software inside U.S. power and water systems, where it's lying in wait, ready to be triggered. The U.S. military has also reportedly penetrated the computers that control Russian electrical systems.
As someone who studies cybersecurity and information warfare, I'm concerned that a cyberattack with widespread impact, an intrusion in one area that spreads to others or a combination of lots of smaller attacks, could cause significant damage, including mass injury and death rivaling the death toll of a nuclear weapon.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by SomeGuy on Wednesday August 21 2019, @12:27PM (3 children)
Ok, so let's review why some of this shit is even possible:
You put your database/service in the "cloud" which is probably some rusty bucket in a Chinese basement.
The only people who know how your application even works are drooling sacks of crap located in some outsourced India office.
You refuse to employ knowledgeable people locally or keep data under your control because your management brochure, written by the Chinese and Indians above, says it is uncool.
You insist that the application be written in "HTML" or some retarded bullshit of the day.
You put everything on the same internet connected network with passwords of "12345" because anything else is too hard.
Instead of moving your data over wires, you insist on broadcasting it over the air where anyone can get to it.
You actually think it is an accomplishment when your application design looks like a Rube Goldberg contraption.
I could go on and on. Idiots deserve what they get.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 21 2019, @01:49PM
Dear SomeGuy,
I would like to hire you for a middle management position at my company, as your rollout plan scores very well on both labor cost and time to market. Please get in touch.
Sincerely,
A Wealth Addict
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Thursday August 22 2019, @10:29AM
Exactly. Good enough for now isn't good enough. Especially when security is an issue. Functionality, not so much.
(Score: 2) by legont on Friday August 23 2019, @12:15AM
I am "a knowledgeable local", but my knowledge is - it can't be saved - sorry. I run; fast.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.