Network Attacks

For those who keep up with this blog, you know that I post to this column from Asia; specifically from the Philippines. You may have also noticed that last week I posted several days late.

The reason for this is now making news and, quite unfortunately, I experienced it first hand.

China is ferociously hacking networks. It is just another covert method the Chinese have been engaged in, to practice and prepare in the event of war. The American media has reported that even the United States does the same, but it is unlikely that the U.S. hacks to this extent.

China's network attacks this past week have been on media sources (Yahoo, YouTube and others), as well as, private networks and not just intelligence resources. Why? Because, while their first interest is to be prepared for attack, they are just as much threatened by western influence, social freedom and generally the American way of life.

The Department of Homeland Security has released data about onslaughts such as these. In three years, between 2005 and 2008, cyber attacks on government and private networks has not doubled or tripled but has increased 18 times; from approximately 4000 attacks in '05 to 72,000 last year. My estimate is that by years end it may well exceed 100,000 attacks.

During this same time, China was in constant development of software to harden their networks and military infrastructure. A 'great wall' of sorts that they maintain is not penetrable; and while China is not the only culprit* in all these attacks, they are the most prepared against counter attack.

In the wake of these threats, however, President Obama has announced a new position called "Cyber Czar" to oversee this looming problem. Whether this new department will operate under Janet Napolitano's Homeland Security or The Pentagon is another story. In my opinion, if it is The Pentagon then expect results. But if it is the bureaucracy that Homeland Security has become, then expect more of the same.

It is a step in the right direction though and Obama seems to be getting this one right or maybe he's listening to The Pentagon. With U.S. industrial and government computer systems under threat, The Pentagon admits that we are all at risk. Not just government computers but infrastructure systems are most vulnerable. Such as those that operate the electric grid, water systems, transportation (on the road, on the tracks, and in the sky), cell and landline communications, even banking systems and ATM machines. This is beyond the all too common "pry and spy" attacks.

Dale Meyerrose, a former chief information officer within the U.S. Intelligence Community, says government, industry, business and the public is just not secure or prepared for what may come. Meyerrose, who was interviewed by Kitty Pilgrim on CNN's Security Watch segment, exposes this vulnerability and says we are open to "cyber fry." This is when digital infrastructures are attacked with redundant data to create a 'denial of service' type hack resulting in system overload. Even more aggressive methods have been employed that include hardware hacking to cause an actual burnout of circuits. A digital crash and burn, if you will.

Whether the greater prepared attack comes from China, or a lesser organized attack by another nation, a malicious group or all of the above, all at once, it won't matter. If we are not ready, it could cost us all more than money.


*AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I have my beliefs on this matter --having personally experienced it just this past week and having been hacked recently by a person(s) whose IP originated in a Middle Eastern country-- that China, isn't the only one to watch out for. There is also an unorganized faction of fanatics within Islamic nations that pose a substantial threat as well; digital jihadists are practicing their skills in a desire to create western chaos. I can almost wager that this will be the next big story.