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Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

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Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#111

So they bought the cameras and some people pointed out they look exactly the same as Russian cameras. The government denied this but after they figured out the serial numbers matched the Russian cameras they started this investigation. Good they investigated this before using them, but this sounds like a big fu...

This would be far more impressive if not for: > multiple reports in Slovak media that linked the purchase to a Cyprus shell company with fake certifications. We're talking about this as if it's some precursor to a James Bond plot, but it really fizzles after learning Nina in the sourcing department skipped the compliance paperwork. James Bond doesn't need to leave the bed! Trojan exploits aside, I just assume that it…

Current government is extremely pro-russian to the point of treason, and people involved in this case double so.

This wasn't some oversight of the proverbial Nina in any way. They just did sloppy job from both sides covering tracks, not uncommon with current government. They are loud (and racist, xenophobic, and often dumb), not competent smart people.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#112
The problem I see is that Putin fully committed to the war. It is not only clear that he has no interest in ending the war, despite the lip service, but will continue to create problems and cause issues. This backdoor here is not an isolated problem - it is a systemic, concerted problem. All retaliatory moves are handicapped by orange Agent Krasnov being an asset for Russia. The EU needs to stop outsourcing its security. That includes having a nuclear arsenal available for all member states.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#113
post #16

[flagged]

That's wrong. Even the pro-Russia politicians did not support the genocide Russia commits against Ukraine. And they are not even in the majority right now anyway; people are not going to elect bribed russian tools anymore. You could see this in Hungary. The rest will follow - everyone sees the daily genocide Putin commits here. No amount of bribe money will convince regular people from what they can see with their own eyes here.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#114
post #16

[flagged]

I find it amusing that the biggest supporters or Russia in its current war of aggression against Ukraine are/were Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia -- precisely the countries that should know better, since they were the principal recipients the "love and friendship" from Russia: - Hungary: November of 1956 - Slovakia: "spring" of 1968 - Serbia: the Stalin's betrayal at the end of WW2

>precisely the countries that should know better, since they were the principal recipients the "love and friendship" from Russia

Goes to show that 1984-style conditioning really does work, decades later.

Remarkably, it can even be passed through generations, as it gets ingrained into the mentality of how parents raise children: "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Don't rock the boat."

Which was a survival trait in those times.

The current incarnation of Russian propaganda is different, but is even more virally poisonous:

> I'm not political. Politics is dirty. There's nothing you can change anyway. "Two sides" is an illusion. Everybody is lying and has an ulterior motive. Only naive fools believe otherwise, only naive fools ever trust. You can't know anything for sure. What you think is true is actually a lie. The only thing that's real is who you're with. That's the only truth. That's the only thing to look for in anything anyone says, that's the only thing one really says. That's what makes something true or false. The words uttered don't matter at all.

You might have seen this kind of mentality spouted by your friends on either side of the political spectrum.

Remarkably, whatever the political persuasion of people who have it is, the end result is the likes of Orban/Fico coming to power.

Sadly, this thing not only spreads, it also sticks.

If you know of an antidote, please tell me what it is.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#117
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are there any other wars that are not of aggression? What do you gain by parroting the legalese speak? Implying that it is extra bad and extra illegal war? Not your run of the mill PG-13 war? This one is X-rated kids. Everyone knows who the attacker is - just some people root for Russia for their own reasons. Usually tied to the internal politics of their countries - like hating for unrelated reasons the political ac…

> Are there any other wars that are not of aggression? There are concepts like wars of necessity or just wars (e.g. of liberation), but that depends on how cynical you're feeling.

> wars of necessity

Propaganda always tries to convince people that the current war is the just war and everyone else is wrong.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it amusing that the biggest supporters or Russia in its current war of aggression against Ukraine are/were Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia -- precisely the countries that should know better, since they were the principal recipients the "love and friendship" from Russia: - Hungary: November of 1956 - Slovakia: "spring" of 1968 - Serbia: the Stalin's betrayal at the end of WW2

Older people in these countries have good memories of that time, employment and housing were basically a given, healthcare and public transportation were solved, etc. They're very easy to manipulate, promise them a 13th month of pension and they'll vote for you. I don't think you understand how bad globalization fucked up these countries, people live with their parents until they're 30+, young people can't find decen…

> people live with their parents until they're 30+, young people can't find decent jobs, etc.

A lot of people in the US feel the same way right now.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it amusing that the biggest supporters or Russia in its current war of aggression against Ukraine are/were Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia -- precisely the countries that should know better, since they were the principal recipients the "love and friendship" from Russia: - Hungary: November of 1956 - Slovakia: "spring" of 1968 - Serbia: the Stalin's betrayal at the end of WW2

Hungary and Slovakia are largest importers of Russian natural gas in Europe. France is third as I remember.

Yet somehow "preemptive nuclear strike is a valid defense" France is a bit different from Hungary and Slovakia in their stance on Russia.

So maybe natural gas imports aren't the thing that determine the outcome.

Re: Slovakia finds Russian backdoor in traffic speed cameras

#120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's rooted in the education system to this day. The majority of school teachers grew up under the Soviet side of cold war propaganda. And in history education in particular, we are told that "we" have always looked towards Russia as a role model, to fight Hungarian nationalism (since the country was just part of Hungary for most of its history).

That is possible, but I also see people who used to be very anti-Soviet, now to be anti-EU and anti-Ukraine. It's kind of like they hated Russia in the past, but now are convinced that EU and Ukraine are worse. When in the past they would claim that the Soviet times were bad, now they would claim that it wasn't that bad in the end. That is of course because of all the horrible things that are happening in EU, like ga…

Well - people can dislike Russia, Ukraine and the EU all at the same time as well.

The world is not simple black/white.

> When in the past they would claim that the Soviet times were bad, now they would claim that it wasn't that bad in the end.

We are here talking about different things. You refer to these people praising the Soviet Union for e. g. healthcare and what not. This has absolutely nothing to do with Putin's genocide against Ukrainians though. Putin represents the aggressive russian empire that wants to conquer more land. It is really simple to see. It has nothing to do with healthcare.

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