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China Readying Cyberweapons

pcworld.com — The Defense Department reports China is building cyberwarfare units and developing viruses.

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  • bbdude, on 10/11/2007, -35/+6Cyberwarfare, lolz.
    • MarcQue, on 10/11/2007, -36/+7I for one welcome our new chinese cyberwarfare overlords.
    • JonForTheWin, on 10/11/2007, -39/+13NSA uses Linux and DARPA finances OpenBSD sometimes.
      Good luck asiafags. =)
    • DocHoliday22, on 10/11/2007, -15/+24"The People's Liberation Army (PLA) continues to build cyberwarfare units and develop viruses to attack enemy computer systems as part of its information-warfare strategy, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) warned in a report released on Friday."

      Since this was issued by the DOD it must be true just like why we went to war in Iraq is all true. I say we bomb them till their computer screens run a BSOD.
    • Braingoo, on 10/11/2007, -7/+45because as we all know its impossible to write malicious code for an open source platform.

      /Sarcasm
    • knomevol, on 10/11/2007, -9/+14take the intelligence the chinese govt is using to put together their cyberwarfare units, combine that with the deadly non-virtual weapons and their utter lack of humanity for even their own citizens...

      there is a scenario worthy of a "world war" moniker: III.

      meanwhile the US is expending all its resources in a "global war on terror" - not even naming an enemy, leaving him a ghost, headed off in sandy directions making no headway whatsoever in bringing peace to this effort....

      when in the end perhaps the US should be paying greater heed their stock in realization of china's deadly zealousness.

    • Mejogid, on 10/11/2007, -4/+34Why's everyone so surprised by this? The US's has almost definately been doing the same thing for a while now - doesn't anyone remember the accusation's of an NSA backdoor in Windows?
    • Ransomowris, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15They're cylons!
    • yongke, on 10/11/2007, -20/+7When will you people realize that they HATE us for our FREEDOM???!!! We are at war already people !Kill them all!
    • kmpr326, on 10/11/2007, -15/+7China pretty much owns the US with all the money it lent it.
    • Malovech, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8The era of Neuromancer is now fully upon us.
    • trghpy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@docholiday22
      There is a difference between the DOD putting out a report and the President claiming that a report is worthy of going to war over.
      Our current selection of government leaders is more interested in profiting off the Internet than protecting it.
      What bothers me is that we're just a knee-jerk reaction away from a nerd vs government cyber war.

  • bigtomrodney, on 10/11/2007, -18/+8I hope they find the cyber-weapons-of-mass-distruction!
  • sirber, on 10/11/2007, -0/+117From: not China
    To: America
    Subject: Not a virus!
    Attachement: runme.exe

    Hi

    This is not a virus. Please run as administrator.
    • knomevol, on 10/11/2007, -10/+3ps: don't forget to feed the dogs!
    • Topher06, on 10/11/2007, -4/+11The Engrish is too good, not from china.

      If it was from China, it would say:

      "Is not the virus. Runs makes the management." and the virus would be runsi.exe.
    • mlw4428, on 10/11/2007, -0/+17"From: not China
      To: America
      Subject: Not a virus!
      Attachement: free_porn.exe

      Hi

      This is porn. Please view as an administrator."

      Fixed.
  • AmericanEmpire, on 10/11/2007, -12/+8Well I'll be damned. I didn't expect that from China..

    /Sarcasm
  • estacado, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11And do what? They are a well connected country themselves. Whatever they do will surely have an effect on themselves.
  • cardyology, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3This story made me think of Cybernator for the SNES. What a boring game...
  • GeorgeStone, on 10/11/2007, -3/+34ProofOfWMDsInIraq.txt.exe
    • sirber, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7.txt.exe is so 1990 ;)
    • Ethion, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15.rtf?
    • youdlike2know, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2. k
    • Kamill85, on 10/11/2007, -1/+39ProofOfWMDsInIraq.txt                                                                                                   .exe

      fixed*
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Hey my default settings in Win95/98/Me/2000/XP/Vista doesn't think I need to see an filename extension. So this not-a-virus.txt must just be only a text file!
  • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -2/+37FTA:
    "China isn't alone in building the capability to attack an enemy's computer systems. The U.S. and other countries have developed similar abilities."

    Attack and destroy computers? The US is already way ahead of everyone else, having given to the world the Windows operating system!
    • dkirkham, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4That's psychological warfare isn't it?
  • varshney, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4Naaah they are not going to attack my computer with those viruses i use Linux and yes i dont use RedFlag Linux
    • ninj3, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Like the guy above said, Linux is completely immune from viruses!
      And I use RedFlagWithYellowStars Linux
    • dattaway, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I hope they do find exploits in the Linux systems. If we have any alert computer operators, they are helping to find possible weaknesses which need to be patched. This will help us better to defend against obscure agencies in our own government who might have MUCH more of an interest to cause individual harm, such as to whistleblowers. Ultimately, China is helping us more than hurting us.
    • TheNameless88, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0@ninj3

      What are you talking about. You send someone a Linux virus on a Linux box, they chmod it a+x, then run it, it will do damage. Simple as that.

      No system is perfect.
    • ninj3, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Dude, I was kidding :P
      You didn't really think RedFlagWithYellowStars Linux exists do you?
  • JohnnyXmas, on 10/11/2007, -0/+33I'm not worried, I've got Norton protecting me!
  • lopla, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7"They drew 1st virus"

    -Techbo
  • KlayBorg, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4Lolz omfg communists. Windows suxxorz lol.

    Seriously guys, grow up.
  • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6"The Defense Department reports China is building cyberwarfare units and developing viruses."

    Which Defence Department?
  • Hornstinger, on 10/11/2007, -4/+0Can someone explain to me when you say "you can't send malicious stuff to Linux as it is open source"? Why or why not?

    I don't understand as I am not overly computer literate.
    • rayt5, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6You can. It's just that since it's open source, if there is a hole, everyone sees it, and someone usually fixes it very quickly. Closed source programs often have to wait until people in the company discover the holes, since they're the only ones allowed to change it or even look at the source.
    • dixonHill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow.
      -- Eric S. Raymond in "The Cathedral and the Bazaar"

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus's_law
    • buddyfarr, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2@rayt5 -

      ha, that is funny. MS has many contracts with vendors that let them see the code. also many of the security holes that have been found in windows were found by persons or companies outside of MS. yes it is a vulnerable OS but please do some background work before putting up comments like that.
    • heavyal, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7You can 'send' as much malicious junk to Linux as you can any Windows system. There are several differences though:

      * Windows binaries (thus windows viruses) do not natively function on Linux
      * A Linux user runs in a user space that does not normally allow direct interaction with the core of the system, thus any damage a prospective virus could do would be limited to the permissions of the given user.
      * Linux Binaries that are received via email, download, or similar means by default have to actually have their executable 'flag' set before they can actually do anything. This adds another layer of interaction on the users part - a virus writer would have to socially engineer his prey into changing those flags so that the virus could be launched - implausible at best.
      * Finally, as someone else mentioned, as an open source project, Linux benefits from having many eyes on it that are interested to a great degree on simply having a solid operating system on which to work day to day. Thus it is most beneficial to them to correct, or submit for correction any bug, hole, or other naughtiness that could cause a glitch in their ability to work efficiently.

      There are more reasons than that, and there have been numerous articles written on the subject. Remember, Google is your friend.
  • WinnerS, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1H4X0rZ
  • stklaw, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Chances of infection raise a lot for having the word "porn" in the filename
  • neugens, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1Use Linux and don't be scared!
  • lopla, on 10/11/2007, -6/+5Bush 2008 or the internets and tubes are gonna get hit.

    -Dick Cheney
  • oriondarkwood, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11I am not surprised, in the past as well as the future. Wars have been decided not by men or machine but by information. As we move towards a more connected world and a more information driven society. What best way to affect the country or counties you are trying to invade that to attack what they hold most dear.. the ability to obtain information. Deny the enemy information and you blind him..

    Its one of the 3 golden rules of warfare

    1. Strike hard and fast, without warning so that your enemy has no option but to retreat or surrender
    2. Blind your enemy by denying him access to information. Allow him free access to mis-information
    3. Cause him to lose trust in himself, in his comanrdes and his cause. Without trust or will the war is already won
    • cmburns69, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"Allow him free access to mis-information"

      You mean I WONT grow by 8 inches with this new herbal supplement I've been hearing about?
  • MannyDR, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5I'm amazed none of you have considered what would arise if they succeeded in bringing down our defense systems, beyond the predictable Windows jokes. It could render weapon systems useless and radars would be fubar, depending on the type of attack. Of course we have the capabilities to do the same but to what extent can we defend against them if we or other countries like Taiwan have to go to war with them. Also think about whether Bushie or the next president decides to send in troops to help defend Taiwan if there is an attack. Bloody massacre.
    • ShutYrDiggMouth, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6our entire defense dept system is connected to the internet? wtf?
    • ShutYrDiggMouth, on 10/11/2007, -7/+4i say let them destroy Taiwan. Then maybe we can get some jobs back here.
    • DeFex, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3They have taken 100 times more jobs than Taiwan, and the quality from Taiwan is usually better.
      • godplaysdnd, on 04/26/2008, -0/+0Made in Taiwan = Made in China Assembled in Taiwan
    • damage78, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@shutyrdiggmouth: You have no idea what you're talking about.
  • zippy757, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Based software history in China, they are simply copying the US's cyberwarware code, and saving about billion dollars....
    • MannyDR, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0If you could cite your claim I would like to read about it.
  • KevinJim, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1I Like that, I hate m$ and espasialy Ballmer ! I want to see him now crying out ***** about patents while getting he's sorry ass kicked by some crazy Kung fu Chines Hackers !

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqFXG1xLOzA&mode=related&search=
  • SoundJudgment, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Isn't it funny how this 'report' comes out, and gets Dugg up on a Webpage that is filled with 'Microsoft Forefront' advertisements? ;)
  • Anonymous3, on 10/11/2007, -0/+14Damn you CnC Generals for portraying a realistic image of chinese computer users!
  • QuantumParadox, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3Damn those Chinese sons of bitches! I think they will start the next world war!
    • ninj3, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Well we can't let the US have all the fun
  • codeninja42, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Damn, it's like we're all starting to live in a William Gibson book...
    • skoober, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The deadliest ***** is odorless and transparent
  • Hiroku, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1We'll call it, Skynet!
  • MacintoshSauce, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The Chinese are coming!
  • ohgr, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4I'm in ur __ __ing ur __ In Soviet Russia... Pwned !!!!!!11!1!one!!eleventy!!!!! Pics or it didn't happen I for one welcome our __ overlords Made with Adobe® Photoshop® Software Will YOU blend? But... Will it blend? Made with Adobe® Photoshop® Software l337 Pwned But... Will it blend? Pics or it didn't happen
  • c0re1337, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Maybe now I can enlist in the military as a cyber-soldier! Fighting for your freedoms on the internet.
    • BillyWells, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16"Bravo team, move out!"

      *click* *click*
      *click* *click*
    • fatpads, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3The picture that paints in my head is hilarious.
    • JohnnyXmas, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0"Fighting for freedomz on teh internetz."
    • buddyfarr, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0uh, would they then have to roll a 100-sided dice piece to take their next turn?? LOL!!!
    • JCGV, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1saving the free world, one zerg rush at a time ^__^
    • psykiv, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@jcgv Then South Korea would kick our ass, wouldn't they?
    • izzybomb, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I think the US would lose. The chinese are all trained to be good cybersoldiers first by being working for gold farms.

      The US on the other hand...just looks at porn.
  • nicobat02, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Don't worry people, we got the digg army ready to deliver a denial of service to the Chinese.
  • digger28, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Damn, now I need the advanced security of Vista
  • Eihcet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I'm usually not paranoid, and I still use maxthon regularly, but since it's closed source and I heard it's chinese owned, I suspect that it has backdoors in it.
  • VinceNoir, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2If anyone is going to write a REAL Linux virus that really does some damage, it will be the Chinese. It will be interesting to see how well Linux actually stands up to a full fledged virus attack compared to Windows. My suspicion is that they would target Apache on Linux since that is the largest population of Linux based machines on the net. They likely wouldn't hit desktop Linux as there are too few users.
  • Jual, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Am I the only one who thought of Neuromancer when I first read this?
  • fatlip, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2i swear to god it took me like 10 seconds to figure out what the word 'readying' was
  • ahhell, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1The Defense Department reports is building cyberwarfare units and developing viruses.

    EVERYBODY PANIC!!
    Who would expect FUD from the DOD?
    • ahhell, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Damn digg removed my "insert enemy of the day" from my comment.
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1ahhell: they're after you. Quick! Hide! Here they come!
  • jimosity, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Jack Bauer will save us.
  • drjekelmrhyde, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Take the enemy eyes and mouth out first (Satellites and computers) without them a heavily computerized military(US) will fall to its knees
    • buddyfarr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3@drjekelmrhyde -

      right, just after the sats start getting shot down your entire country would get nuked. good plan! let me know how that goes. do you really think that you can shoot down all the sats before the US launches? I don't think so.
    • longbow486, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2the scary thing is china has already tested a system for this
  • longbow486, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1we should get the support of the surrounding countries, go up to Beijings front door, with a CAT5 cable in hand, and say "Internet out?"
    • longbow486, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0then when they comply, walk over to a box, flip a switch and its back on
      they look at us like we are insaine and say "what was the cable for?"
      "just for looks"
  • dave333, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2In Soviet Russia, computer attacks you.
    • buddyfarr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@dave333-

      funny how I could not read your comment without using a deep, badly done, russian accent...:)
  • drjekelmrhyde, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Large scale Computer attacks first by the Russians then Chinese sat killers the US would'nt know what hit her cause she depend on toooo much tech
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Stupid 12 year olds would be lost without their text messaging! OMG!

      On a serious note... What would it take to cut off all internet access out of the country (in case such an CYBERattack happened)
    • buddyfarr, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@spacemonkeyzero -

      good question! I would like to know that answer too.
    • longbow486, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2this country (US)? a few fiber lines that go from the east cost accross the "pond", a few fiber lines on the west cost as well, all the fiber and coax lines going to and from Canada and Mexico, and all the Satalite Communications too. but if that where to happen, all the internet in the world would go out too, as we have all the main DNS sites and NOC's (there are about 5 major one's total) in this country
  • rabidmonkey1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1We can only hope that their very creations will gain intelligence and rise up against their would-be masters, enslaving them in a virtual fortune cookie factory. That would be ironic to an Orwellian degree...
  • Albion01, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3What, this is some sort of surprise? China is an up and coming economic super power, you don't think they're going to protect their interests with their own deterrent arsenal? China wants it's own cards so it can counter America's trump card. What scares me more is the fact that China owns most of America's debt. One tug on the economic strings and America reels.

    • cmburns69, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1In a tug-of-war, both sides collapse. It's not a good thing for America that China owns the debt, but it's not as bad as it sounds. China can't do much to hurt America without greatly hurting itself in the process... At least for now...
    • josh1413, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Is that a Donald trump card? If so, they are scared.
  • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I for one welcome the return of CYBER into the vocabulary over the late 90's e- and current i- prefix.

    the iPhone is old news... I want a CYBERphone!
  • fuzzmeister, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2We have been modernizing our military for years, but when China starts to, we think that they are preparing for an attack on the US. Think about it rationally: if we have a strong military, why shouldn't China, or any other country, be allowed to? They are quickly becoming a huge force in the modern world, and it's ignorant to think that their military won't mirror that.
  • mlw4428, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Anyone else see that firewall that china has being used as a defensive shield for when they do decide to make a strike?
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1And google, yahoo, and Cisco will have people working overtime to help protect China from any such attack.
  • blacklabelrum, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0"made in china"
  • windhawk, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I, for one, welcome our cyber overlords.

    (so long as they let me keep surfing pr0n)
  • dwiezel, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5The problems with china are primarily its communist ideology, its long history and culture mired in lying, deceiving and stealing inspired by sen sui (the art of war) and ingrained at every level of society, its lack of regard for human rights and the rights of the individual and the health and welfare of its people.

    Until the communists are taken out of power and the country becomes a representative democracy (maybe never), china will continue to be a danger to the world.

    As such, they should not be allowed to have access to anymore technology created by the Western Nations.

    We should not let them steal anymore than they already have and that means we must begin to reduce and restrict bidirectional trade with china and put greater controls on the export of technology to every country because their spies (and thieves) are everywhere.
    • lipsynch, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2The problems with the US are primarily its capitalist ideology, its long history and culture mired in lying, deceiving and stealing inspired by war and ingrained at every level of society, its lack of regard for human rights and the rights of the individual and the health and welfare of its people.

      Until the Republicans are taken out of power and the country becomes a real democracy (maybe never), the US will continue to be a danger to the world.

      As such, they should be allowed to have access to anymore technology created by anyone,

      We should not let them steal anymore than they already have and means we must begin to reduce and restrict trade with the US and put greater controls on the import of technology to this country because their spies (and thieves) are everywhere.
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@lipsynch oh you're so clever on the internets.
    • dwiezel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@lipsynch

      Very original. I wish I had thought of a format of expression like yours.

      This is not about the USA, this is about the threat that communist china represents to the USA and the world.

      If you are so naive and ignorant not to see the apparent then none of us on Digg can help you.

      Your weak response has only informed me that you some red-diaper-baby-commie-fascist-leftist of the vast left wing conspiracy!

      Or, perhaps you are a chineses communist spy trying to influence thoughts and opinions on Digg.

      Hmmm...
    • subgeniusd, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2@dwiezel -"The problems with china are primarily its communist ideology"

      That tired, old autocracy at the top of the pyramid hardly represents the Chinese population which is generally far more capitalistic and free market driven then Europe or even the USA. You are stuck in the pre-1990s dude.
    • teethman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2""That tired, old autocracy at the top of the pyramid hardly represents the Chinese population which is generally far more capitalistic and free market driven then Europe or even the USA.""

      No. Not even close.
    • teethman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1lipsynch

      Capitalism is an economic system, not a political ideology, and your post actually makes no sense.
    • dwiezel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@lipsynch

      Just look at what the communist leadership and its henchmen do to their own people. Do you think that they have greater regard for those who are not chinese? I think they would be ecstatic if the rest of us left the planet -- of course they would expect us to help mop things up first and turn the lights out... ;-)
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