Scared of Anonymous? NSA chief says you should be...

[Earth_First]

Scared of Anonymous? NSA chief says you should be




The director of the National Security Agency says the hacktivist group is growing more powerful and could eventually attack our power grid. So beware.

Anonymous has so far plied its trade in "hactivist" exploits. But according to the director of the National Security Agency, it might soon turn its focus to U.S. infrastructure.

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources, Gen. Keith Alexander has said in private meetings at the White House and elsewhere that the U.S. must keep a close eye on Anonymous' growth. He reportedly warned that if the organization continues to gain power, it might even take down a part of the U.S. power grid within the next couple of years.

Anonymous has made no indication that it plans to attack the power grid. And its hacks, while decried by government officials, are celebrated by others who say the group is acting on the average citizen's behalf.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57381598-17/scared-of-anonymous-nsa-chief-says-you-should-be/#ixzz1n8SV6Tqx

Boogie, oogie, woogie, boogie...

[Zalatix]

1. Why should Anonymous attack our power grid? Our corporations are doing that already.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/09/major-power-outage-shows-weakness-of-aging-electric-infrastructure.html

[Warren Stupidity]

5. Seriously. Where I live everyone who can afford to has gotten generators

because the reliability has fallen off a cliff and one can actually die during extended outages. The privatized power companies have transferred reliable infrastructure costs off to their 'customers', who of course have no choice who they get their infrastructure from, and 'regulation' is so 1970s, so the states have basically folded on doing anything about it.

[Earth_First]

6. We are very close to purchasing a stand alone generator...

for this very reason.

[midnight]

19. This sounds like a great idea... Do you recommend a certain size or brand?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

27. IMHO, get two. (1) a small one until the neighbors get used to the noise, and to be used as a

backup to a larger one, plus (2) a larger one for full house needs.

These things are noisy, but the smaller ones produce less noise. Unless something is done about the sound, they can be commonly heard for more than a 1/2 mile away. Try that at night, after 8 hours of having the generator run, when the neighbors are trying to sleep.

You can annoy the neighbors a little less by creating a styrofoam enclosure. Just don't get the styrofoam too close to the muffler.

What brand? Whatever is being sold close to you.

[Erose999]

41. I would assume you could probably run the exhaust through a larger muffler as well, like a car

muffler. My dad said that when he was in Vietnam they'd build an enclosure around the generator and connect it to a Jeep or a tractor muffler.

[jmowreader]

58. The exhaust produces relatively little of the noise of a generator

In the Army, we would do one of two things to silence a gasoline-powered generator: stack sandbags around it, or dig a big hole and lower the unit into it. What REALLY works to silence a gasoline-powered generator is doing a Direct Exchange action and trading it in for a diesel. (Diesels make less noise because the engine runs slower--because diesels have LOTS more torque than gas engines, they can design the generator so its engine runs at 1800rpm rather than 3600rpm like a gas-engine generator does.)

You probably don't want to dig a hole for your generator or put sandbags around it...so why not build a structure that looks like a big doghouse for the generator?

[Warren Stupidity]

43. If you get a wired in full size residential natural gas powered generator

they aren't actually very noisy at all. Far quieter than the low end gasoline bangers everyone hauls out of the garage to keep the 'fridge going.

But you are going to pay serious $ for it. Mine's a Kohler, and it works great, well actually we haven't had a major outage since I put it in, but for the 20 minutes it had to do something it, did what it was supposed to do and it didn't bang up the neighborhood doing it.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

55. 20 minutes? Good for you. In Illinois, we've had repeated outages last year. Sometimes for days.

For those who didn't have generators, many lost everthing that they had in their freezers and refrigerators.

[Warren Stupidity]

61. Right it was the four day outage in October here that got me a generator.

That was the third multi day outage in the last three years. I was merely observing that now that I am prepared, we haven't khad to use it.

[Erose999]

62. United Way got my dad a generator. My mom had ALS and when their neighborhood was hit by a tornado

they would have been without power for over a week. Couldn't move mom to a hotel or anywhere because she needed round the clock care and all the handicapped assist stuff in the house.

[Progression]

46. Same thoughts

I also don't see a reason why Anonymous would attack our power grids. Maybe this was one of the NSA tactics to slow the growth of anonymous. I don't see this tactic being all that effective though.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. meh

the spook agency uber alles that has been grepping everything everyone transmits over every transmission system for decades complains about anonymous.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. They may even interfere with the government's ability to arrest cancer grannies for getting high

They've gone TOO FAR!

[PufPuf23]

4. Most People should worry more about NSA than Anonymous. nt

[TalkingDog]

24. 100%

n/t

[gkhouston]

52. +1000. They tried to hire me, years ago.

All they would tell me about the job in advance was that I'd only have to work 40 hours/week.

[Systematic Chaos]

7. Fuck you, Mr. NSA Chief, sir.

And I say that with utmost sincerity.

[badtoworse]

17. What an erudite post.

If you knew anything about the power grid and what is being done to keep it secure, you wouldn't post such ignorant blather.

[villager]

18. If you knew anything about the NSA, you probably wouldn't post that either...

n/t

[truebrit71]

29. ...for the win!

...

[badtoworse]

36. I know about the power business

I've worked in it for almost 29 years. Protecting critical infrastructure (generating stations, substations, etc.) from cyber attack is a huge concern and a lot work has been and is still being done to insure the grid is protected. Much of the work is being done by the North American Electric Reliability Council ("NERC&quot which has legal authority to implement and enforce reliability standards. The power industry views cyber security as a matter of national security. Given that, why shouldn't the NSA be involved?

[Earth_First]

37. ...because the whole premise of the OP relates to the ridiculousness of Anon attacking the grid

I am certainly not downplaying the critical role involved in maintaining the security of our infrastructure.

However, to elicit the suggestion that a group that has largely been involved in populist DDoS attacks is gauging, planning or actively engaged in attacks on the nations' power grid is simply more TERRA, TERRA, TERRA!

[badtoworse]

38. If they can do it, other, perhaps terrorist or otherwise malicious groups can also do it.

If they develop the capability, it would be highly irresponsible to assume they would not use it.

[Fawke Em]

64. You must work for a BIG utiltity company, then.

In my industry (cyber security), we're not seeing many in your industry with any knowledge of SCADA systems.

As a matter of fact, even the utility companies we do other compliance testing for will admit that few really use the SCADA network properly. Most smaller companies simply can't afford the technology.

[badtoworse]

65. I've worked for GPU (now part of First Energy) and Con Edison

The NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection ("CIP&quot Standards apply to all generation 75 MW and above, as well as critical transmission infrastructure. A lot of it has to do with isolating critical cyber-systems and controlling access to hardware. Compliance with the NERC standards is required under the law. NERC does do audits and you can be fined up $1 Million a day for non-compliance.

A lot of the expertise we needed to assure compliance did not reside in-house, so we hired an outside consultant to look at our facilities and confirm that we met the standards.

[Justice wanted]

8. Sounds like NSA is more frighten of Anonymous and exposing them the truth.

[RKP5637]

9. More fear ... be afraid. There are a zillions things I fear far more than Anonymous since

911 and how it's been handled with more and more surveillance, etc., etc. And the over reaction ushering in more authoritarianism and less of a democracy.

[Earth_First]

10. How much longer until one of them is charged with 'domestic terrorism'

and the conversation becomes another "us" v.s. "them" campaign...

[BeHereNow]

12. Ushering in authoritarianism and THEOCRACY: Santorum

Consider all the executive orders Bush penned in the middle of the
night in unprecedented numbers- collectively they numbered more
than ALL the executive orders ever signed by all the presidents before him.

Now it the thought of a delusional individual being handed those powers
doesn't scare the crap out of people, then there is no hope for the future.

People have GOT to start demanding focus on the fact that Santorum is
exhibiting symtoms of Delusional Disorder.

Such a person should NOT even be considered for a presidential candidate.
It's incredible to me that he has made it this far, given the bat shit crazy
things he has said publicly.

BHN

[Hugabear]

11. Translation: Terra, Terra, Terra...we need more internet regulation

That's what it sounds like to me.

Highly reminiscent of the post-9/11 fervor that lead to the Patriot Act.

[Broderick]

13. BINGO

[Newest Reality]

14. Agitprop at its

finest! Continuing the war on the word "terrorist" by implication, or, "Anything that is a threat to the Military-industrial complex you must fear and suspect!"

You can't win that war of words indefinitely as people scan their world and notice the contrasts.

Anonymous just is and was to be expected.

[drm604]

15. Growing in power?

What? They're getting more and more powerful at guessing weak passwords?

They've already shown that they can hack into accounts and servers, how much more powerful at that can you get?

If the kinds of attacks they use can compromise the power grid then we need to strengthen the security of the power grid, because if anonymous can do it then a foreign country can do it, and that's who we really should be concerned about.

Why would anonymous attack the electrical grid? The internet is the whole basis of any "power" they have, and the internet depends on the electrical grid. They would be shooting themselves in the foot.

We definitely need to strengthen the grid, but not because of anonymous.

[midnight]

20. Exactly...

[HopeHoops]

16. I've got about a dozen UPS units in the house. A power grid outage would ONLY impact my usage...

... for about forever after the 15 minutes or so of run time ran out.

[Marrah_G]

21. I'm not afraid of Anonymous

The NSA can take their fear mongering and shove it.

[Gold Metal Flake]

22. Why, we could lose a majpr American city!

[chrisa]

23. So, Anonymous, internet hacktivists, would turn power off (thus turning the internet off?)

These guys are a bit out of touch.

By the way, they're only saying Anonymous could do it because they're too big of babies to say who would really do it - China.

[TalkingDog]

26. Anonymous has everything to lose if there is no internet.

So I'd vote China or country X before Anonymous...

[GeorgeGist]

25. 'power grid' could mean Wall St.

That would seem more likely for Anonymous.

[hyphenate]

28. They're scared of Anonymous

because he DOES represent the people, not the government. The group has attacked only sites which, in some way, violate the best interests of the people.

And whether it's a D or an R in the white house, there are so many secrets that work against the citizens of not only the US, but thr world, and, like Wikileaks, the people should know and understand that we need to fear our government, and NOT the groups trying to get out the secrets and show them in broad daylight.

If that makes me an anarchist, so be it--I think of it as a defense against the darker workings and underpinnings of the secret government we're not supposed to know anything about.

The ones Anonymous attacks are the only ones who should be afraid.

I've been told that they're all criminals, and perhaps they are. But I see few in public life who manage to state their philosophy without fear of the consequences of their actions. We have seen the Ds become cowardly and ineffectual, and we have seen the rich and the powerful take even more from us all. For too long, we have been unable to act--now, we see technology being fought by technology, and beating them at their own game.

Anonymous might end up toying with us at some point, but right now, I am very glad that both the group, and Wikileaks are attempting to level the playing field, and bring transparency back to the government.

I have met a lot of people online over the course of 25 years, and I know both some good, and some "bad." I have seen the younger ones taking on giants in the industry and online communities, and more often than not, frustrate the crap out of those who think they are in charge. If a head is lopped off, more will rise to fight. And the thing is, they are from around the world, each one pledging to do what they can to rage against the machine. I would trust one of them more than I would certain governmental agents, who have a greater capacity for screwing up our lives.

[hughee99]

30. So they haven't threatened the power grid, but they have the capability to crash it, so we should be

afraid of them. Meanwhile, Wall street companies have already proven their ability and willingness to crash the fucking US economy and we're giving them tax breaks and bailouts.

Perhaps the REAL problem they have with with Anonymous is that they often act on the average citizen's behalf.

[RKP5637]

32. Yep, that's what it's all about IMO. They challenge TPTB, yep, "Perhaps the REAL problem

they have with Anonymous is that they often act on the average citizen's behalf."

Agree 1,000,000 %!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

31. Did the NSA borrow this bogeyman from the Pentagon? Or, did they invent their own?

[Matariki]

33. Better get people hating them

before they are put into indefinite detention without a trial.

[davidthegnome]

34. Beware the anonymous...

Maybe I'm the only one, but I picture a lot of them as 14 year olds with really thick glasses and way too much porn on their HDs.

Are they really a threat? Depends on just how up to snuff our NSA is... oh man, we're DOOMED. DOOMED I TELL YOU

[DearAbby]

35. COLOR ALERT - ORANGE

Stock up on powdered milk and tuna fish. BE AFRAID.



This has been a PSA approved by NSA to CTA.

[bvar22]

45. powdered milk and tuna fish?

Don't forget the duct tape and plastic sheeting!

[ZombieHorde]

39. Beware! You may lose your website for several full minutes! nt

[Tom Ripley]

40. says the head of Paranoia for Profit

[sabrina 1]

42. That's ridiculous, Anonymous would not be interested in doing that. But then, someone might and

blame them. The people have no reason to fear Anonymous, but the power structure apparently does.

[DearAbby]

47. Yeah you have to fear a terrorist

who would be stupid enough to shut of the very power the computer needs to do the dastardly deed....yessindeedy

Maybe they taught Guinea pigs to row a little row boat for alternative means of power ...:tinfoil:...teaching the chubby one to yell ROW can be a bitch.

[hootinholler]

48. Off the top of my head

I can imagine many scenarios where the perpetrator would want to shift blame to Anon. I can also think of a few where the FBI or some other agency would as well to help classify them as terrorists and make warrants easier to obtain.

[sabrina 1]

49. Yes, me too. And seeing this statement makes me think that is a very definite possibility. Although

I could be simply paranoid! Lol!

[hootinholler]

51. Remember it's not paranoia if someone is actually out to get you

We know infiltration is a popular tactic amongst the TLAs (Three Letter Agencies). Even the latest FBI created bomber gives evidence to the continued use.

If they use a tactic against others then why would anyone think they wouldn't use it against any other thorn in their side?

[justiceischeap]

44. I'd be more concerned about the upcoming elections if I were the NSA

It's okay for Repubs to hack these computer-based voting systems and cheat voters but it's a different story if Anonymous did it. The question is, if Anonymous decided to "hack the vote" who would it hurt worse?

[hunter]

50. When the grid collapses for profit taking and lack of proper maintenance...

... this says to me they'll be blaming "terrorists."

But the real terrorists are gaming the system and getting rich on Wall Street.

.

[limpyhobbler]

53. It didn't work, I'm not scared.

[Terra Alta]

54. I fear a Santorum or Romney administration much more than I fear Anonymous. nt

[got root]

56. projecting

[lonestarnot]

57. Shouldn't the NSA Chief be more concerned with the future hacks than future fear?

[JNathanK]

59. I'm more worried about the NSA and the NDAA

They can now use the military to detain citizens indefinitely. Sec. 1021, at face value could be mistaken to protect American citizens, but it really doesn't. All it says is the current policies concerning Americans, in how they're prosecuted, isn't affected by the bill. It never explicitly says that American's aren't covered persons either. You just have to look at what the NSA's done to figure that out. The NSA has a death panel, a real one (no joke), that can supersede the standard judicial process. Last year they ordered the killing of Anwar al Awlaki, a US citizen who was staying in Yemen, with a drone. This is what we get for allowing the Bush administration to imprison non-Americans without the constitutional processes that are supposed to apply to Americans.

Lieberman actually drafted a new bill that's going through the house right now that will strip the citizenship and rights away from those deemed to be terrorists. Now, I don't care much for genuine terrorists (those that terrorize innocent civilians with bombs and weapons for political purposes), but the constitution and its guarantee of a trial by jury isn't there to protect criminals. Its there to protect those falsely accused of being criminals. When the NSA is allowed to function as an extra-judicial counsel that supersedes the court system, I get very worried.

[JNathanK]

60. I wouldn't be surprized if the government intentionally crashed the grid...

...so they could blame it on domestic terrorists as a preemptive to regulate and control the internet more extensively.

[Fawke Em]

63. I embrace Anonymous on serveral levels.

A. I like their goal of complete transparency.
B. I applaud their innovation.
C. I work in IT security and they give my company FUD fodder (I'm in marketing).