Cyber Spies

So I read a couple articles today about cyber warfare. It is a lot more common than one might think, and can range from a simple computer virus on a laptop, all the way to a network of computers working simultaneously to hack a military network to steal information. We live in a digital age where almost every single piece of information that exists, does so on some sort of computer network. We like to think that this information is safe, protected and couldn't possibly fall into the wrong hands. That is a very naive thought. With the right personal information, a half decent hacker can hack into your bank account and transfer your entire life savings into the account of his choosing.

Now imagine if an expert hacker or cyber criminal, who is being funded by a foreign government agency and given the best technology possible, decides he wants to have some fun and turn off power to a region of the United States. This is very possible seeing how almost any network can be hacked into, and everything from natural gas to electricity to the water supply is controlled by government computer networks. Obviously these networks have very sophisticated security and are monitored 24/7. But they are also vulnerable and an attack can't always be stopped, never mind if they even know its happening in the first place. A virus named Operation Shady RAT has done just that. Here is a quote from a Vanity Fair Magazine article describing Shady RAT:

"Operation Shady RAT has been stealing valuable intellectual property (including government secrets, e-mail archives, legal contracts, negotiation plans for business activities, and design schematics) from more than 70 public- and private-sector organizations in 14 countries. The list of victims, which ranges from national governments to global corporations..., demonstrates with unprecedented clarity the universal scope of cyber-espionage and the vulnerability of organizations in almost every category imaginable."

There is no need for conventional spies anymore if this sort of espionage is relatively easy to accomplish. If a foreign country that we aren't on good terms with manages to get a hold of U.S. military or government secrets, it could spell disaster. Even worse would be having hackers destroy or compromise systems that control what we take for granted every day, like water or electricity. If the U.S. was to have its power cut and was put into the dark, I believe it wouldn't be more than a few days before people start to panic. Can you imagine not having your phone, or television, or internet, or anything else that uses a power source taken from you for a prolonged period of time. We would be thrown back into the stone age and cities would be in chaos. The movie Live Free or Die Hard comes to mind. Bruce Willis has to take on an evil genius hacker who hacks into government networks and cuts off power to parts of the U.S., blows up natural gas pipelines, and messes with traffic control systems. Even just the traffic lights not working puts people into a confused frenzy.

This brings up the issue of cyber security. If even the most secure government networks can get hacked, then most of us don't stand a chance. Cyber warfare is very difficult to be stoppped. The government needs to step in and see what new measures can be put into place to stop cyber warfare, since the ones we have now obviously are not very effective. The U.S. has way too many assets, and I'm sure way to many secrets that need to be protected at all costs.

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/09/operation-shady-rat-201109?

http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2011/08/operation-shady-rat/

http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2011/08/operation-shady-rat-five-year-hack-attack-hit-14-countries.ars