Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia • Hacker News Board

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#161

Post by bagels » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:24 AM UTC

stickfigure wrote: post #100

bink wrote: post #94

This thread is mostly full of jokes, and that's cool. But more seriously I'm exactly the kind of person I suppose this is meant to appeal to. I've spent the last 2-3 decades breaking into systems. Many of these systems comprise what the US calls "critical infrastructure". That's pipelines, power generation, transmission, distribution. Air traffic control systems. Government agencies. I'm based in the US. The problem…

I think it's reasonable to assume that for at least the next few months, you have a strange form of "diplomatic immunity" for attacks in Russia. No jury in the US would convict you, even in the unlikely event someone wanted to prosecute (which would be political suicide here). So, have at it.

It is not reasonable to assume this. You might get lucky, or you might spend decades in prison.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#162

Post by reitanqild » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:24 AM UTC

dschulz wrote: post #75

Probably I'm just naive but I really don't understand this cyber warfare theater. Why aren't all internet operators in the free world just blackholing all russian ASNs (complete with the other allied bullies) from the internet routing tables? Wouldn't this be enough to avert all the nasty attacks on critical infrastructure?

If we did that, Russians wouldn't be reading HN and Twitter now and wouldn't be seeing images of abandoned/destroyed Russian vehicles, captive Russian soldiers, wounded civilians (who likely have Russian relatives). They probably wouldn't know that the tiny Ukrainian air force has downed multiple Russian aircrafts.

They wouldn't see the outpouring of support for the brave souls in Russia who take to the streets to protest the madness.

They wouldn't be able to keep contact with friends, family and ex-colleagues who can provide them with unfiltered (or at least with other filters applied) information.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#163

Post by magpi3 » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:27 AM UTC

jollybean wrote: post #131

weisk wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You seem like a knowledgeable person. What does Ukraine really have, that Putin so desperately wants? And best of luck to you, dear friends.

"What does Ukraine really have, that Putin so desperately wants? " It's not 'what it has' it's 'what it is'. Putin views the Ukraine as 'part of Russia' - that's it. I don't understand why people have such a hard time with this. Imagine if Mexico invaded Texas in 1950 and 'won'. A lot of Americans would want to 'take it back'. Now I don't believe that this analogy is real in terms of the Ukraine situation (Imagine if…

Not a very good analogy. No western country ever invaded Ukraine. When the Soviet Union collapsed Ukraine was granted its independence without a shot being fired.

A better analogy would be Australia and Canada. Both were part of Great Britain and both became independent after the British Empire collapsed.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#164

Post by qbasic_forever » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:28 AM UTC

TameAntelope wrote: post #37

Am I the only one who thinks this is well intentioned but kind of silly? I don’t know a lot about this space, but I don’t know especially how many skills translate from offense to defense. Is this basically just a call for folks to turn in their 0days and access or something? Seems wt least marginally more useful than trying to train up a bunch of script kiddies to fight GRU…

This seems extremely silly, if for no other reason I would bet 75% of the applicants will be Russian agents/intelligence officers applying to learn intel or mess up the operations.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#165

Post by Gwarzo » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:28 AM UTC

lalaland1125 wrote: post #149

stickfigure wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's reasonable to assume that for at least the next few months, you have a strange form of "diplomatic immunity" for attacks in Russia. No jury in the US would convict you, even in the unlikely event someone wanted to prosecute (which would be political suicide here). So, have at it.

This is extremely terrible advice. You should delete your comment before you cause someone to go to jail.

A sort of side comment, but I absolutely despise this type of thinking.

"before you cause someone to go to jail"

If you take legal advice from pseudo anonymous users on aggregate websites you deserve to go to jail. Even in writing that, the users did not "cause" anyone to go to jail; the moron reading and acting on that comment did. Have some respect for individuality mate.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#166

Post by prawel » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:29 AM UTC

mahkeiro wrote: post #119

bink wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a huge gamble most people aren't willing to accept.

Bur remember that by treaty US and UK (and Russia of course) promised to defend Ukraine in exchange of their nukes. At least if they try to go after you, you can still argue that you were trying to comply to a treaty that both countries have decided to ignore.

they promised not to attack, not defend

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#167

Post by qbasic_forever » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:30 AM UTC

8bitchemistry wrote: post #126

Seriously, I would love to hear Edward Snowden's opinion. Not much on his twitter about it though.

Considering that he's sheltering in Russia right now I would strongly suspect he's going to keep his mouth shut no matter what his opinion is about it. If Putin kicks him out he will be extradited and thrown in a US federal prison solitary confinement cell indefinitely while 'awaiting trial'.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#168

Post by chrissnell » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:30 AM UTC

jollybean wrote: post #148

Just like nobody would even talk about Nord Stream 1, or EU didn't want to cancel Swift, and EU leader is literally talking about a 'pretty lit up building' in 'support of Ukraine' - while Ukraine is begging for weapons ... I'm wary that this is a little too late. If you want to help, call your Senator and demand that they supply Ukraine with as many Javelins and Stingers as they can, unlimited small arms, equipment…

Great comment, particularly your summation of the 1980s Cold War zeitgeist. It was very real for our generation and nuclear war drills and fallout shelters were part of the life for school kids in many places, especially my South Texas town with its (then) five military bases.

I don’t agree with you on blockading Russia or escalating conflict over Ukraine but it will be a different situation if Russia makes a move on Estonia or Latvia or—God forbid—Poland.

For me, my response to increasing global instability is the same as it was during the riots of 2020: get the heck out of cities, especially coastal cities. It’s not going to get better any time soon. In a small town in a flyover state, I can at least grow my own food and raise my own family with minimal worry about the outside world, aside from diesel prices.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#169

Post by d23 » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:36 AM UTC

8bitchemistry wrote: post #126

Seriously, I would love to hear Edward Snowden's opinion. Not much on his twitter about it though.

Disappointing tweets from him imo. But like others have said, he’s been taking refuge in Russia so he’s kind of in a terrible spot.

Re: Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

#170

Post by LeFantome » Fri, Feb 25, 2022, 5:40 AM UTC

The only sanction that has enough teeth to so anything is to remove Russia from SWIFT. Without Germany’s backing, this will not happen.

In addition to boycotting Russia, citizens of the world should be boycotting German products until they agree to ban Russia from SWIFT.

Putin is risking World War III and Germany has decided to let it slide to avoid some short-term economic pain. Not cool.