I'm trying to understand why computers and phones everywhere aren't hacked at will, as soon as they are internet connected. What's special about Sochi?
From the second link. Page did not load well for me, but text below did. Sure if you get there and then immediately create a honeypot on the network you will get hits. duh...
"NBC News Web Extra NBC News' Richard Engel creates a "honeypot" to test the likelihood of getting hacked while traveling in Russia. Published February 4th 2014, 4:58 pm"
Nothing, of course. But we all have to be scared to the death about the evil Russia (same as about China, BTW) and support increasing the defense budget, allocated for new cyberwarfare. In order to get more money warmongers're spread next BS, we pay more taxes. Business as usual...
This could easily be turned into something productive... a source of individual & national pride... if they'd just sanction hacking as an Olympic sport.
Gets me wondering, is there nothing to fear in Sochi or everything to fear everywhere? I mean really? Hook up a mac and watch it get owned in minutes? Are they full of crap or is our hardware that vulnerable?
Hook up a mac and watch it get owned in minutes? Are they full of crap or is our hardware that vulnerable?
I can't address a mac directly but honeypots by definition are machines that are configured to allow (UN-authorized remote) access. As rfnut pointed out earlier it's no surprise that a honeypot was hacked. That's what is supposed to happen. Is NBC full of crap? What they did was solid investigation - how they presented it was 100% BS, IMO.
quote:I'm trying to understand why computers and phones everywhere aren't hacked at will, as soon as they are internet connected. What's special about Sochi?
Nothing they are just trying to make Russia look bad!! (Its MSM (NBC) remember)
If anything happens THEY WILL CAUSE IT AND SAY THEY DID!!!!! (U.S.)
Where is the "control" for comparison to know whether or not this is specific to SOCHI? Or would same "test" in major US metro area hosting an international event on the scale of the Olympics yield pretty much the same results? My guess is such a "control" "test" would yield pretty similar results.
Fear mongering. But then again, "Only the Paranoid Survive".
"control" is used in close proximity to words such as "methodology" & phrases such as "peer review" where here "FUD" is the only thing that comes to mind.
The question should be "why" is NBC shooting a venue they paid $750M USD for broadcast rights to in the foot? The answer might be within the question.
The second link shows that they didn't get hacked, they deliberately installed malware on the phone and computers. They went to a website on the phone and downloaded a malware infected apk, opened an email attachment on the PC and on the Mac went to a website that asked to install an "antivirus program" which they went ahead and did.
That's what keeps this forum a vibrant community. A healthy mix of 'noobs & experts' & everything else in-between being able to quickly come to conclusions that other 'security spaces' wouldn't see even it hit them on the head.
It will be interesting to read Kyle Wilhoit's (the expert from Trend Micro in the video) blog post about all the technical details that were edited out of the video. He's promised it today.
Also how about the hilarious way Engel opened that MacBook Air box. For those that don't know the top lifts off, like the way you open a box of chocolates.
At least those getting it over the air or internet aren't paying for the "news."
On another note: If it was a honeypot, they sure go out of their way to make it look like it wasn't. Instead of a honeypot computer, they open a brand new Mac. Instead of a honeypot phone they play it off as if it's a regular phone. Which again begs the question: Is everyone, everywhere getting owned like they show happening in Sochi? I'm not aware of any way geography plays a part in hardware vulnerability.
The question should be "why" is NBC shooting a venue they paid $750M USD for broadcast rights to in the foot? The answer might be within the question.
Maybe they are venting frustrations at not having mints on their pillows every morning and all the other luxury perks (lightbulbs, doorknobs, private toilets) that they are used to while covering foreign events.
Well that certainly lets the air out of NBC's hype balloon...
And then some - one wonders if they'll issue a retraction ? Brian Williams must be red-faced. The execs at NBC must be in full damage mode as the US TV Networks are becoming known for hurried reporting - namely CNN.