Last week, McAfee reported attacks on our energy companies of a sophisticated nature.
They originated in China, however it could not be determined whether they came from a governmental, corporate or criminal entity.
Security researchers at McAfee have sounded an alarm for what is described as “coordinated covert and targeted cyberattacks” against global oil, energy, and petrochemical companies. McAfee said the attacks began November 2009 and combined several techniques — social engineering, spear phishing and vulnerability exploits — to load custom RATs (remote administration tools) on hijacked machines.
As with the e-mail messages used in regular phishing expeditions, spear phishing messages appear to come from a trusted source. Phishing messages usually appear to come from a large and well-known company or Web site with a broad membership base, such as eBay or PayPal.
In the case of spear phishing, however, the apparent source of the e-mail is likely to be an individual within the recipient's own company and generally someone in a position of authority.
According to an article in the New York Times, spear phishing attempts are not typically initiated by "random hackers" but are more likely to be conducted by "sophisticated groups out for financial gain, trade secrets or military information."
This is a very brief summary of the (nineteen page) McAfee White Paper found HERE:
"1. Company extranet web servers compromised through SQL-injection techniques, allowing remote command execution. 2. Commonly available hacker tools are uploaded on compromised web servers, allowing attackers to pivot into the company’s intranet and giving them access to sensitive desktops and servers internally. 3. Using password cracking and pass-the-hash tools, attackers gain additional usernames and passwords, allowing them to obtain further authenticated access to sensitive internal desktops and servers."
Initially using the company’s compromised web servers as command and control (C&C) servers, the attackers discovered that they needed only to disable Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) proxy settings to allow direct communication from infected machines to the Internet. Using the RAT malware, they proceeded to connect to other machines (targeting executives) and extracting email archives and other sensitive documents.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/2v67fy7
I have a Chiacom motion detector under my bed.... and if one [or several] dared to hide under my bed, it sets off an alarm that plays Lucille Ball's whiny ass voice at 98 decibels. And for the foot locker at the end of the bed where I hide all my 'toys', there's a siren that if the lid is opened by a Chiacom it plays the sound of machine gun fire in D Flat.
I pretty much got the house covered, but I need to do something about the garden shed. I mean, wouldn't want 'em hiding in there, would I? S'pose I could always install a Chiacom motion sensor that sets of a recording of excerpts of Charlie Chan's voice. Now that phony Chiacom accent would have to really piss 'em off and ensuing sounds of discontent would alert the authorities to their location.
I'll tell you what, matey, there are political figures from around the world who mutter the same things under their breath... that the US Government got too big for its boots at the behest of the arms dealers/manufacturers. Again, here we have the corporate world active in political and world events where they have no business being, but are because dumb ass politicians sure know how to start a war. And what really pisses me off is that when these corporate thugs cannot take over what they want by fair means [or foul] they send in the military to take it by force,
Some might argue that is simply not true, but one only has to look as how many US politicos are in the arms business, oil and/or banking. Three of the greediest industries on earth.... and they are never far removed from government kickbacks, interventions and/or collusion.
I'm not normally a violent person, but sometimes I think the world would be better off if there were more political and corporate assassinations to show the bastards that we the people don't like their shit and will no longer tolerate it.
You'd have to wonder about a fellow like that. I mean, here he benefited [from the death and maiming of Americans] yet comes off as a major churl, doesn't he?
So, he wanted to be a virtual slave of Saddam's? I'm not saying that we had a right to invade Iraq, however. Saddam sort of precipitated/played into Bush's/Energy Corp.'s hands by pretending to have WMD's, didn't he?
I believe there are other ways to accomplish that.
That is a great qualifier. But I would ask for further clarification. Do you believe the policy makers (those making the aims of America) think it is in the best interests? or that they are clearly working to subvert the best interests of its people?
Mine plays Fran Dreschers! Have you ever seen a Chicom explode?
Or perhaps what Scoutdog believes are the best interests of its people?
Um, I think his dislike, contempt or whatever was/is aimed at the very people American citizens condemn for their actions, not towards the troops who liberated them. As he said, the profit motivation was too great for bush to ignore... that had Iraq been devoid of oil Hussein would still be seated on the throne. Frankly, I agree with the sentiment!! I mean, what did Bush offer the people of Zimbabwe when Mugabe was into the wholesale butchering of his people? Nothing, that's what.... ZILCH. And why? There was/is no oil!
So do I! That's why I'm not normally a persons who condones/advocates violence. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and attempting to vote the bastards out of office, asking/begging for better corporate controls keep failing time and time again. The mongrels seem impervious to the fair and decent methods we try to get a better deal, so maybe it is time for them to attempt catching a few bullets between the teeth.
Yup bump off a dozen or three and the rest start thinking about their mortality and what they need to do to stay alive. The answer to that is quite simple... become decent human beings with consideration for their fellow man/women, and they earn a tacit reprieve.... which can be reealed the moment their greed instinct rears its ugly head.
Yes Doc, I know, you are in the business of saving/preserving human life. The thing is, though, these parasites ceased to be human when they became rabid corporate animals who seek to tear each other and anyone else who gets in their way apart. Sorry [not really] but I cannot respect anyone who seeks to to put profit above all other considerations, including human life and compassion for others.
I Still feel as though he's an ingrate, at best. What does he care what the motive was as long as he's free?
I also think that it isn't necessary to become a Robespierre to correct the abuses of royalty. It requires steady, unrelenting effort on the law makers and regulatory investigators to bring about reform.
One can only really view things from his own context, I guess. I concur that conditions there were bad and got worse, but they are recovering and the monster is gone, at the cost of American and Iraqi life.
Still, that man wouldn't be free today were it not for our effort and blood. From the information available, he didn't bleed...but he's free. If I were kin to one of the dead I might resent that, although he could be to one of the Iraqi dead. He might also have had a better set up under Saddam (which he isn't admitting) and be resentful because of that...who knows?
Plus, there's the fact that a good ten thousand Iraqis died in that fight, either directly killed by American soldiers or as a result of the near-anarchy that they caused. I'm pretty sure those people would not have died under Saddam, and they won't ever be coming back.
Also, one must consider that Saddam was more or less secular. The current Iraqi government, however, seems to be listing towards the theocratic, and theocracies in general (of any religion) seem to have a tendency to oppress women. So it's entirely possible that around 50% of the population will end up being significantly less free.
And lastly, is it really right to consider America responsible for the fact that Iraq reassembled itself as a nominal democracy? If another strongman had seized power and implemented a more totalitarian regime, would that have been America's doing as well?
Like I said, he was grateful to the troops who liberated he and his family... his gripe was more that the US historically often butts in where it is neither wanted or welcome, and usually because there is something in it for them. Anyway, I guess one has to have been offended in some way to understand the sentiment... and being a foreign national who has a personal tragedy/grievance and living outside the United States would also help.
That is all well and good, in theory, but when the lawmakers are bought men [and women] reform is quite tardy at best.
Again, I'm guessing that it takes a few kicks in the guts from the upper echelon and elite to fully appreciate the sentiment.
I had a large corporation [Woolworths] shit on me because I wouldn't toe the line with regard to slimy business practices [I refused to change the "use by" labels on meat packages] to save money. I also refused to turn off the fridges and freezers when I locked up the store after supervising the 'night fill'... stocking the shelves. Had I done so [to save money] it would have raised food temps above acceptable levels and put the buying public at risk, but they fired me nevertheless and I lost a lot of money in wages, holiday pay and other entitlements because they deemed I was in dereliction of my duties and insubordinate.
I also saw my 75 y/o mother get evicted from her home of 40 years because the corporate body [gov't housing] decided to jack up her rent by 25% for additional income they deemed she received after being recently widowed. The thing is, she was actually receiving less money and couldn't pay the rent rise, but that didn't matter to them, they evicted her anyway.
So you see, there are reasons for my impatience and intolerance of government and corporations.
Sounds like you took that esteemed Boy Scout motto seriously. One further observation. The garage. Have you considered the route open to the dedicated Chiacom there? Back in the days I soiled my hands doing manual labor, I went to change the oil on my Ford (buy more Fords, they make America strong and provide extensive employment for auto mechanics) and found a flattened, genetically modified Chiacom infiltrator hiding under the cardboard sheet which I used to keep my garage floor clean (home resale value depends upon clean and waxed garage floors, according to my Brooklyn born and raised business adviser). I quickly called in the Homeland Security experts.
duh, havent you people played fallout 3? Get a big super robot to bring them down. If that doesnt work, get people into the VR chamber where they'll enjoy the bliss of a happy american suburban afternoon while the country gets invaded by chinese commandos.
I'm just a bit worried about the genetically engineered Chiacoms who can disguise themselves as various household pets. Yup, I hear they listen in on and record everything, which could be very embarrassing and leave you open to blackmail if you don't want the neighbours to know what you do behind closed doors
So that's what the smiley on the wall is doing. Quick. Get 'em before he gets away.
Hi guys! Glad you're enjoying, but could I make a good natured suggestion?
Why not start a "Let's Have Fun!" thread instead of doing it here? Thanks.
Okay bud, we'll sod off and play silly buggers someplace else.... in a good natured sort of a way.
For my part, however, I am sorry about the off-topic antics....
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