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Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

bbc.com

21–30 of 146 posts

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#21
post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

Anything can be news if it’s a recent development. Reporters report.

I find it interesting. I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Power consolidation. The Internet is currently the best way to get access to honest, quality journalism - which is probably the biggest threat to Putin, et cetera. I believe Putin wants to undo glasnost .

> The Internet is currently the best way to get access to honest, quality journalism Honest, quality journalism is a fantasy. It never existed. Even Benjamin Franklin used his newspaper to influence elections by slandering his political rivals. Not to mention fake news[0]. [0]: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2017/02/even-ben-frankli...

That’s a gross generalization if I ever heard one.

Both exist.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#23
post #20
post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

> the journalists present this story as Russia's voluntary step towards isolating itself from the global internet. I am not sure why. Some potential benefits to Russia: 1. Thwart cyber attacks 2. Control information 3. Halt foreign online payments There are of course downsides, but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression.

> but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression.

That was my understanding as well.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#24

If they did keep Russian users inside then would they allow external user in also? I'd be concerned we'd be missing out on a lot of Russian content.

This is a big question for sure. Especially for the technical content. There are a lot of really talented software engineers that come out of Russia, among others.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#25
post #23
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the journalists present this story as Russia's voluntary step towards isolating itself from the global internet. I am not sure why. Some potential benefits to Russia: 1. Thwart cyber attacks 2. Control information 3. Halt foreign online payments There are of course downsides, but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression.

> but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression. That was my understanding as well.

which is easy to declare without processes as needed, such as during social unrest. . ..

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#26
post #20
post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

> the journalists present this story as Russia's voluntary step towards isolating itself from the global internet. I am not sure why. Some potential benefits to Russia: 1. Thwart cyber attacks 2. Control information 3. Halt foreign online payments There are of course downsides, but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression.

> 1. Thwart cyber attacks

By whom? State actors can just launch attacks from computers that have both a Russian internet link and a link up to a internet providing satellite, no?

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#27
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression. That was my understanding as well.

which is easy to declare without processes as needed, such as during social unrest. . ..

Oh, during a social unrest in Egypt in 2011 the government famously shut down the internet. Didn't help them much :-)

I think the main concern of the Russian internet users is to get isolated from the rest of the internet indefinitely during peace time, in a way of China or North Korea. I am not sure we are seeing signs that the Russian government intends to go that far yet.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#28

It was the next logical step for Russia after they built their own GPS and their alternative to the World Bank, the BRICS bank. Their biggest enemy has proven that they cannot be trusted and they are the ones who invented the Internet. Anytime they have a disagreement with a nation, they take their ball and go home. Like what they were doing with Huawei. I won't be surprised if China and India are working on the same…

>> This world needs an alternative to anything built by the USA.

Be careful what you wish for - there were 5 bullies 105 years ago and we know what happened!

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#30
How do they handle corporate intranets?

Normally I'd expect Globocorp to configure its intranet with, for example, a separate AS each for Germany and Russia. But the AS in Germany may be connected to the Russia AS via a 155 Mb/s leased line from Berlin to St Petersburg with BGP routers. The German AS may also connect via a corporate firewall to a public ISP in Germany, and the Russian AS to a public ISP in Russia.

It is theoretically possible, therefore for a user on a public ISP to connect via Globocorp's intranet to a public ISP web site in Germany.

Is there some technical or administrative requirement to prevent transit via corporate intranets?

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