A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked • Hacker News Board

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#21

Post by alan_cx » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:03 PM UTC

mjmahone17 wrote: post #19

I honestly don't know that the Chinese government is in the wrong here. If we look, historically, every developing country had to steal intellectual "property" in order to compete against the bigger players. Britain did it when they stole Dutch loom technology (and created massive tariffs in order to keep British wool for British industry), the US did it when they coaxed Samuel Slater to illegally bring British mill…

Also, who gets to decide what's fair and square? I bet the Chinese have a few thoughts on what's fair and square.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#22

Post by bhauer » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:04 PM UTC

jnp wrote: post #4

This article isn't about the individual unmasking of a hacker, but more about the humanistic element of unintentionally leaving clues about your identity while masquerading online. I'm pointing this out because you're in for a highly anti-climactic read.

Yet, fairly interesting nonetheless.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#23

Post by alan_cx » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:06 PM UTC

wilfra wrote: post #9

chnshckr wrote: post #5

This is racist. If it was a US hacker nobody would care. But ooooooh it's a Chinese hacker. How evil! China soooo evil!

Did you read the article? The Chinese government is involved in a vast, systematic and sustained cyber attack against the United States (and many other countries). If the NSA or CIA were doing this, people would be just as interested in reading about one of them being sloppy and getting unmasked.

You think US agencies aren't? Heh, in the olde days, we had defectors. Now its easier. Same thing though.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#24

Post by BasDirks » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:07 PM UTC

mjmahone17 wrote: post #19

I honestly don't know that the Chinese government is in the wrong here. If we look, historically, every developing country had to steal intellectual "property" in order to compete against the bigger players. Britain did it when they stole Dutch loom technology (and created massive tariffs in order to keep British wool for British industry), the US did it when they coaxed Samuel Slater to illegally bring British mill…

I think the nation is a worthless idol not worthy of bestowing the right to any such morality, but you make a good argument.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#25

Post by alan_cx » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:23 PM UTC

dhimes wrote: post #8

chnshckr wrote: post #5

This is racist. If it was a US hacker nobody would care. But ooooooh it's a Chinese hacker. How evil! China soooo evil!

If it was a US hacker he'd be in jail.

A US hacker hacking the Chinese? I some how doubt it. Probably be offered a job. US hacker hacking US computers... well, I guess government has to vent its vengeance somewhere if it cant get its mits on foreign hackers. Dont get me wrong, my lot in the UK would do the same.

More over, if the Chinese wanted a US citizen extradited for hacking a Chinese computer, do you think the US would hand him or her over to the Chinese? Heh, I even doubt the US would hand a suspected hacker over to an ally like the Brits. Maybe Im wrong. If so, please cite a case.

And of course, equally I dont see the Chinese offering up its citizens for US "justice" any time soon. A justice system that many in the US think of as fundamentally broken.

All I read here is Chinese bad, West good, while forgetting that none of us have clean hands. If the Chinese had some technology we wanted or needed we'd be hacking their backsides off looking for it. And called patriots for doing so.

Lets just stop the moralising and finger pointing, and just get on and play the game. That's all it is. I suppose it fills the space left by the end of the cold war.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#26

Post by cgh » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:33 PM UTC

druiid wrote: post #6

chnshckr wrote: post #5

This is racist. If it was a US hacker nobody would care. But ooooooh it's a Chinese hacker. How evil! China soooo evil!

Wait, what? How is this racist? If the story said 'All Chinese are hackers', that would be racist. If the story said, which it did, 'A person who lives and works in China for the government spy academy is a hacker', that is not racist. Edit: Trolling troll is a troll. I 'knew' it was a troll account, but looked just now to be sure... created 34 minutes ago :P.

It's like HN has never heard of the 50 Cent Army. Guess what, they're here and they aren't trolling.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#27

Post by wilfra » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:55 PM UTC

alan_cx wrote: post #23

wilfra wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read the article? The Chinese government is involved in a vast, systematic and sustained cyber attack against the United States (and many other countries). If the NSA or CIA were doing this, people would be just as interested in reading about one of them being sloppy and getting unmasked.

You think US agencies aren't? Heh, in the olde days, we had defectors. Now its easier. Same thing though.

They probably are - and I assure you an exposé about them doing so would hit the top of HN!

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#28

Post by hexagonc » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 5:56 PM UTC

mjmahone17 wrote: post #19

I honestly don't know that the Chinese government is in the wrong here. If we look, historically, every developing country had to steal intellectual "property" in order to compete against the bigger players. Britain did it when they stole Dutch loom technology (and created massive tariffs in order to keep British wool for British industry), the US did it when they coaxed Samuel Slater to illegally bring British mill…

I don't think we would want to use the disreputable behavior of nations in the past as a model for what is acceptable today. That's why treaties and agreements are made so that we learn from our mistakes. Not playing by the rules that you have agreed to and expect others to adhere to is cheating -- I have no problem with people calling China out on it. It's not like China is unfairly singled out and there isn't plenty of criticism of the US and US companies for bad behavior. Regardless of sovereignty, the Chinese don't have a right to ignore other countries' IP if they want those same countries to respect theirs.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#29

Post by pepr » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 6:26 PM UTC

mjmahone17 wrote: post #19

I honestly don't know that the Chinese government is in the wrong here. If we look, historically, every developing country had to steal intellectual "property" in order to compete against the bigger players. Britain did it when they stole Dutch loom technology (and created massive tariffs in order to keep British wool for British industry), the US did it when they coaxed Samuel Slater to illegally bring British mill…

And don't forget Japanese - in the sixties and seventies, they were copying technologies exactly like Chinese do today and everyone was afraid they're going to overrun the whole world.

Re: A Chinese Hacker's Identity Unmasked

#30

Post by dublinben » Sun, Feb 17, 2013, 7:00 PM UTC

hexagonc wrote: post #28

mjmahone17 wrote: post #19

I honestly don't know that the Chinese government is in the wrong here. If we look, historically, every developing country had to steal intellectual "property" in order to compete against the bigger players. Britain did it when they stole Dutch loom technology (and created massive tariffs in order to keep British wool for British industry), the US did it when they coaxed Samuel Slater to illegally bring British mill…

I don't think we would want to use the disreputable behavior of nations in the past as a model for what is acceptable today. That's why treaties and agreements are made so that we learn from our mistakes. Not playing by the rules that you have agreed to and expect others to adhere to is cheating -- I have no problem with people calling China out on it. It's not like China is unfairly singled out and there isn't plent…

IP is just a made up way for incumbent producers to squash competition. The Chinese have just as much right to ignore it as every other developing country in history did. Imposing developed standards on developing countries is just pulling the ladder up after ourselves.