nanog mailing list archives
Re: NSA Laughs at PCs, Prefers Hacking Routers and Switches
From: "Scott Weeks" <surfer () mauigateway com>
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 14:05:04 -0700
--- eugen () leitl org wrote: From: Eugen Leitl <eugen () leitl org> “No one updates their routers,” he says. “If you think people are bad about patching Windows and Linux (which they are) then they are … horrible about updating their networking gear because it is too critical, and usually they don’t have redundancy to be able to do it properly.” ------------------------------------------------------ So, they're saying upgrade to every new OS that comes out? Plus, isn't spelling a requirement for journalists these days??? "...patching Windows and Linux (which they are) then they are..." ------------------------------------------------------ Hijacking routers and switches could allow the NSA to do more than just eavesdrop on all the communications crossing that equipment. It would also let them bring down networks or prevent certain communication, such as military orders, from getting through, though the Post story doesn’t report any such activities. With control of routers, the NSA could re-route traffic to a different location, or intelligence agencies could alter it for disinformation campaigns, such as planting information that would have a detrimental political effect or altering orders to re-route troops or supplies in a military operation. ------------------------------------------ This is just confused, like much of the rest of the article. Mostly FUD with a small kernel of fact inside the FUD wrapper. scott
Current thread:
- NSA Laughs at PCs, Prefers Hacking Routers and Switches Eugen Leitl (Sep 04)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: NSA Laughs at PCs, Prefers Hacking Routers and Switches Scott Weeks (Sep 04)
- Re: NSA Laughs at PCs, Prefers Hacking Routers and Switches Warren Bailey (Sep 04)