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Countering threats from North Korea

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111–120 of 172 posts

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#112
post #18

it is interesting that most of the CVEs are "use after free". instead of being stuck in an endless cycle of detection and patching, maybe, it's time we consider better ways...

Ah, yes, I’m sure the Chrome team is entirely unfamiliar with ways to improve memory safety. Snark aside, every browser vendor is working on this, it’s just that migrating is nontrivial.

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you’ll find TAG regularly gives assessment on attribution at least at the country level. Iran, China, Russia, Belarus and North Korea at least have been named in the last few years. (Disclaimer: I am head of TAG)

How do you know what country is actually behind any of this? I’d imagine that would be very difficult given nation states can host content anywhere in the world and will want to make it look like it’s coming from elsewhere.

I don’t work in this field, but my impression has been that groups tend to share techniques and code patterns that can help tie them back to where they came from.

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm actually surprised Google would say this is from the DPRK government without also saying it had has been verified by US federal government authorities. Usually they leave it for others to deal with statements at that level.

I think you’ll find TAG regularly gives assessment on attribution at least at the country level. Iran, China, Russia, Belarus and North Korea at least have been named in the last few years. (Disclaimer: I am head of TAG)

Here’s a question I expect you’ll never answer: is it within the capabilities of any groups within the West (state-sponsored or otherwise) to fabricate the information you’re using to make those assessments? And if so, how have you decisively eliminated this possibility?

I ask because it’s broadly accepted that there are extremely powerful and wealthy entities in the West who benefit from an aggressive US foreign policy and heightened geopolitical tensions.

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rather than attacking him, you are free to discuss on how it would be hard to attribute or reach to a source. Just because you might not know what techniques the researchers here used to reach to that conclusion, doesn't mean they would have used dubious methods. It is better to ask than attack a person.

The United States reserves the right to react to cyber attacks with force [0]. Instead of asking people to be nice on the internet you should hold those accountable that are in a position to manufacture a narrative. The linked report in the sibling comment here has no valid proof of North Korean involvement but the headline is chosen in a way to paint a picture of an impoverished nation as an aggressor. If you just a…

> Instead of asking people to be nice on the internet you should hold those accountable that are in a position to manufacture a narrative.

Nope, Hacker News is the place where you be nice to each other on the internet rather than assuming they’re trying to manufacture consent. This is quite literally spelled out in the site guidelines.

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#117
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you’ll find TAG regularly gives assessment on attribution at least at the country level. Iran, China, Russia, Belarus and North Korea at least have been named in the last few years. (Disclaimer: I am head of TAG)

Here’s a question I expect you’ll never answer: is it within the capabilities of any groups within the West (state-sponsored or otherwise) to fabricate the information you’re using to make those assessments? And if so, how have you decisively eliminated this possibility? I ask because it’s broadly accepted that there are extremely powerful and wealthy entities in the West who benefit from an aggressive US foreign pol…

Why do you have to prefix your question with, "Here’s a question I expect you’ll never answer"?

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#118
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you’ll find TAG regularly gives assessment on attribution at least at the country level. Iran, China, Russia, Belarus and North Korea at least have been named in the last few years. (Disclaimer: I am head of TAG)

Here’s a question I expect you’ll never answer: is it within the capabilities of any groups within the West (state-sponsored or otherwise) to fabricate the information you’re using to make those assessments? And if so, how have you decisively eliminated this possibility? I ask because it’s broadly accepted that there are extremely powerful and wealthy entities in the West who benefit from an aggressive US foreign pol…

Probably, but even more simply they have the capabilities to just direct intelligence agencies, politicians, and news corporations, and big internet and social media companies to put the blame wherever they like. There is no need for a perfect technological solution.

Hack something shoddy together, go to war/regime change/etc, and worst case if it does come to light that the "intel" was wrong, a well-placed "whoopsie-daisy" is enough to wash hands of all responsibility or scrutiny.

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#119
post #108
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm very curious how we can attribute a threat to a particular nation state, given pretty much anything in code/IP/modus operandi/etc. can be faked by one party to look like another. I went through both links and all I found was a lot of hand-wavings like > One of the top identifiers of Lazarus is their dual attack mission – money theft and espionage. This modus operandi is unique to North Korea, as other state actor…

I've posted this elsewhere, but https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1092091/downl... This is about WannaCry, but it shows how multi-source attribution is done.

Thanks, this seems much more detailed. I'll give this a good read.

Re: Countering threats from North Korea

#120
post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s not what I’m talking about. And since number portability and mobile devices became possible, area codes are mostly irrelevant. For example, I’ve lived 2000 miles from the area code of my phone number for probably 10 years now.

They're not mostly irrelevant. 72% of Americans live in or close to the city that they grew up in. Area code is remarkably accurate.

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