6mo ago

China hacked Verizon, AT&T and Lumen using the FBI’s backdoor

Pluralistic: China hacked Verizon, AT&T and Lumen using the FBI’s backdoor (07 Oct 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

Privacy @lemmy.world

Anonymouse @lemmy.world

6mo ago

pluralistic.net /2024/10/07/foreseeable-outcomes/

40 comments

Wow. It's almost like we've been warning for years that putting backdoors into software, systems, and encryption would allow nefarious parties to exploit them.
- Think about the children
  <clutches pearls>
  . It will make it easier for police to access instead of
  <checks notes>
  doing actual police work and getting a warrant.
  
  Well yeah but then they'd have to expand the hiring pool beyond the dumbest jock you knew in high school and those people tend to balk at doing fascism so...
  
  Sorry, I only think of children during school shootings, it's easier that way.
  
  you don't want police to think about children, or atleast I don't.
- The FBI is the nefarious party lol
  
  Waco intensifies

~~China~~ USA hacked Verizon, AT&T and Lumen then left the door open for anybody else
- If the door exists, then it can be opened
- And this is why the NSA is supposed to close exploits rather than harvest them for surveillance.
  This is why surveillance backdoors are always bad, and you can't math around that.
  
  Can't weasel around math you mean? They don't think they can, it's collateral damage.
- US did not need to hack, they just said they need the key... How did china get these keys?
  Are our glowies selling state secrets now?
  
  Oh hey, I found a random 8 year old video.
  Random...
  https://youtu.be/VPBH1eW28mo

What?? But the FBI called dibs on that backdoor! /s
It's almost like putting backdoors into software as a whole is a bad idea cause anyone who knows of it can use it, not just "tHe GoOd GuYs"
- cause anyone who knows of it can use it
  …and the ones who don't know of it will one day become the ones who know

This article is getting saved, for the next time some idiot proposes 'lawful backdoors', which will inevitably happen.
- Nervously glances at TPM and TSA approved locks.
  
  I still love the fact that those TSA keys are all available online as 3D files and likely as metal as well

I remember them trying to get Apple to put in a back door as well
- Only Apple can use that data for profit! Now the Alphabet agencies just buy that data from brokers..... I just realized how funny the parent company to Google name change is.
  
  Dang, you're right! It's like noticing the arrow in fedex
- That was a psyop my man
  Got normies super comfortable ;)

Article author struggles with clean links
https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/u-s-wiretap-systems-targeted-in-china-linked-hack btw
The pioneers of this dirty business were overwhelmingly founded by ex-Israeli signals intelligence personnel,
That's interesting. Must be a coincidence.
and related Clinton-era initiatives, like the failed Clipper Chip program, which would have put a spy chip in every computer, and, eventually, every phone and gadget:
"Don't worry, guys we tried to backdoor all devices but failed, see?"
Meanwhile, Intel ME, AMD "Secure Processor", and ARM "TrustZone":
- That’s interesting. Must be a coincidence.
  Kinda coincides in time with Israel becoming less of a normal West-aligned state and more of a spoiled child whom everyone pats, not very well-behaving at that.
  Though TBH this was the case under Reagan too. It's just that there's difference between support for Israel and Israel's penetration back.
- That link is a 404 for me.
  
  Same. The OP article is interesting, but was hoping for more than a few wiki links of past instances. Is there more verifiable evidence for this instance? Don't doubt the claim, just curious.
  
  Dawg
  Edit: y'all no fun
- The link is 404, for me this one works: https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/u-s-wiretap-systems-targeted-in-china-linked-hack-327fc63b
  Or archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20241008022534/https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/u-s-wiretap-systems-targeted-in-china-linked-hack-327fc63b
- I think you should watch this Great Video by CCC,de on Intel ME it has some great facts and information on the deal with IntelME without all the fearmongering and conspiracy theories other videos and blogs usually pump out.