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Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

bbc.com

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Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#31

Post by aasasd »

azangru wrote: 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…

> But the journalists present this story as Russia's voluntary step towards isolating itself from the global internet. I am not sure why.

Because control over access to the web is a theme of lawmaking and enforcement here for almost ten years. This is not an isolated initiative. I'd also very much like to know what exactly the ‘test’ consisted of, but there's no doubt that Russian government dreams of having a Big Russian Firewall and the rest of the wonderful Chinese inventions.

Like e.g. having some government-mandated apps preinstalled on every phone sold here, which is coming into force in some following months. Like having messenger users identified by linking them to phone numbers, which is already a law and soon will be a law for email too (if I didn't miss it having been passed).

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#32

Post by FpUser »

azangru wrote: 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…

There are very few real reporters left. Most of the articles reek of bias and since Russia is a designated bad country no matter what they do it is evil.

I am not really trying to protect Russia here but articles like the one in the title are written for brain dead people. They should go try janitor work instead.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#33

Post by FpUser »

azangru wrote: post #27
jethro_tell wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

When all that mess with Russia/Ukraine had started the West was openly contemplating disconnecting Russia from the international payment services. That had lead Russia to develop it's own.

The Internet is a vital infrastructure element. Leaving the risk of potential disruption to some US congressmen's whims is not a very wise choice. Of course it can be used with bad intentions as well but so can anything else. I think I've already mentioned this in my older post and it was downvoted eagerly.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#34

Post by aasasd »

sys_64738 wrote: post #9

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.

The government here is less bothered by Russians reading something foreign than by them writing something not too happy. Mostly in Russian language, but whatever.

You missing out on some content is collateral damage, and that's not the government's problem. After all, there's government-approved content, and that should be enough.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#35

Post by altmind »

Rarely mentioned, but Russia also tested the security of their (mobile signal networks) SS7 and Diameter systems Dec 16-17.

It never fails to amaze me how little attention is paid to these systems that can track, intercept and hijack the comms of mobile phone users of any country, internationally.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#37

Post by dimator »

FpUser wrote: post #32
azangru wrote: 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…

There are very few real reporters left. Most of the articles reek of bias and since Russia is a designated bad country no matter what they do it is evil. I am not really trying to protect Russia here but articles like the one in the title are written for brain dead people. They should go try janitor work instead.

The attack on a difficult profession that already suffers from stigmas is not necessary or welcome.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#38

Post by rudnevr »

azangru wrote: 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…

maybe, because they've already banned linkedin, telegram, most opposition web-sites and have laws to proceed further?

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#39

Post by dullgiulio »

Merrill wrote: post #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…

I guess they would simply cut it in half by disconnecting the Russian ISP to the German one. Even VPNs stop being useful if all connections to the outside are severed.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#40

Post by everdev »

3pt14159 wrote: post #26
everdev wrote: 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.

> 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?

No security is full proof, but they call it "hardening the target" when you reduce your attack surface.
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