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Russia a 'risk' to undersea cables, defence chief warns
The UK's most senior military officer has warned of a new threat posed by Russia to communications and internet cables that run under the sea. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, the chief of the defence staff, said Britain and Nato needed to prioritise protecting the lines of communication. He said it would be an "immediately and potentially catastrophic" hit to the economy if they were cut or disrupted.
The cables criss-cross the seabed, connecting up countries and continents. [...] Speaking to the Royal United Services Institute defence think tank, Sir Stuart said the vulnerability of undersea lines posed a "new risk to our way of life".
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(Score: 4, Informative) by Unixnut on Saturday December 16 2017, @12:24PM
I mean, not like the UK is part of the "five eyes" system, now is it? And I am sure the UK never taps any of the cables that go through that geopolitical choke point called Gibraltar? I mean, they only keep that hunk of land because of the good weather and seafood, right?
And what about all those "accidents" where fibre to countries got cut off temporarily due to a "boats anchor dragging across the cable".
I mean, I remember a few years ago, where there were 2-3 such large "accidents" around the world. Large enough that they couldn't be hidden and it was reported in the media (probably many more ones that were not reported).
Like I am going to believe that all of a sudden major steel reinforced fibre connections are being severed due to drunken sailors throwing anchors in the deep sea. Then just as suddenly, it all stopped. Am I to believe there has been a sudden and sustained outbreak of sobriety onboard ships? Or have they confiscated all the anchors?
And now, "Russians" might cut cables to install taps. You don't say? Big whoop. Assuming they haven't been doing that before (and I am sure they have, if not now, then back as part of the USSR), should I go cower under my bed? Beg the government for more draconian surveillance to violate my privacy because "Russians"? What?
Seriously, and people get riled up by this shit? It is state espionage, I expect the Russians to react to whatever the NSA/five eyes has been doing, and give them a taste of their own medicine. I mean, every country has intelligence, espionage and counter intelligence sections, they all do as much as possible within their budget and capability.