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Russia and Georgia Engaged In a Cyberwar

doctorfaustus writes "I first picked this up in bits and pieces last week off Daily Rotation. A more in-depth story is available at ZDNet, which reports 'a week's worth of speculations around Russian Internet forums have finally materialized into a coordinated cyber attack against Georgia's Internet infrastructure. The attacks have already managed to compromise several government web sites, with continuing DDoS attacks against numerous other Georgian government sites, prompting the government to switch to hosting locations to the US, with Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertaking a desperate step in order to disseminate real-time information by moving to a Blogspot account.' There is a question whether the computer work is being done by the Russian military or others. ZDNet's story offers further analysis of the attacks themselves and their origins. Some pretty good reporting." And reader redbu11 contributes the news that Georgia seems to be censoring access to all Russian websites, as confirmed by a Georgian looking glass/nslookup tool. The access is blocked on DNS level (Italy censored the Pirate Bay in the same way). Here are a couple of screenshots (in a language other than English) as of Aug 12th 5:40 pm: www.linux.ru nslookup — FAIL, www.cnn.com nslookup — OK.

ComputerWorld guy CWmike adds "In an intriguing cyberalliance, two Estonian computer experts are heading to Georgia to keep the country's networks running amid an intense military confrontation with Russia. Poland has lent space on its president's Web page for Georgia to post updates on its ongoing conflict with Russia. Estonia is also now hosting Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site."

22 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. let it loose! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We can just sit back and watch and see just how good their blackhats really are.

    1. Re:let it loose! by Namlak · · Score: 2, Funny

      You know you've arrived when your hat's gone to plaid.

    2. Re:let it loose! by beckerist · · Score: 5, Funny

      hmm...Russia....RED hat hackers?!? ehh? ehhh?? get it?!

    3. Re:let it loose! by Kozz · · Score: 3, Funny

      hmm...Russia....RED hat hackers?!? ehh? ehhh?? get it?!

      So... red hats... a bunch of old ladies?

      --
      I only post comments when someone on the internet is wrong.
    4. Re:let it loose! by Darkness404 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nope, just a paid for version of Fedora http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RHEL

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
    5. Re:let it loose! by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      We need a "hat colour" for a war hacker. This will become a lot more common in the information age.

      Any takes on a good colour?

      Digital Camo of course. Sheesh, what's your excuse? Your UID isn't THAT high.

    6. Re:let it loose! by chris_mahan · · Score: 2, Funny

      I humbly propose a new term for hackers who engage in warfare: "steel hat".

      --

      "Piter, too, is dead."

  2. Poor Atlanta... by polyomninym · · Score: 5, Funny

    It was just too dang hot for them to see it coming.

  3. Well, that's a relief by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    I heard all this talk about a war between Russia and Georgia and got kind of anxious, but itturns out it's just a cyberwar. The media really should stop sensationalizing these things like that.

  4. Direct translation to Battlefield... by deft · · Score: 2, Funny

    It seems that Georgian military units are pinging off the map, while russian units are enjoying first shot capability.

    This has allowed the Russians to clear each map easily, with little resistance.

    --

    There's nothing Intelligent about Intelligent Design.
  5. Re:You know what's great about Soviet Georgia? by baldass_newbie · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not as many white supremacists morons, either.

    I don't know, dude. This is the Caucasus we're talking about. Lots of Caucasians there.

    --
    The opposite of progress is congress
  6. Re:You know what's great about Soviet Georgia? by eln · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't know, dude. This is the Caucasus [wikipedia.org] we're talking about. Lots of Caucasians there.

    Yah, but they're mostly self-loathing caucasians, as opposed to white supremacists.

  7. a Language other than English by seyyah · · Score: 3, Funny
    That's crack reporting there:

    Here are a couple of screenshots (in a language other than English)

    It's Georgian. In language and alphabet.

  8. Re:Without country by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 2, Funny

    What's to stop widespread vigilante justice against either side?

    Hot double agents who promise to aid the hackers in their jihad against perpetual virginity in return for non-interferenece.

  9. Haha, LOL, but not really! by ShieldVV0lf · · Score: 3, Funny

    Georgia: c2c?
    Russia: Yes, I would love to cyber
    Georgia: 2 late lol..just got 3 msgs
    Russia: Die
    Georgia: ?
    Russia: I winnuke you
    Georgia: OH *@#@)(! I am still running win95!

  10. I didn't know Georgia had computers by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh wait, you meant the other Georgia.

    --
    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  11. In Soviet Russia... by scubamage · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...service denies you!

  12. CyberWar Weapon by rafaelolg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why don't russian just link some Georgia's site in slashdot? The chances of service survival after a slashdot rampage are minimal.

  13. nope, I think it can be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    They are 'asshat' hackers.

    Russia behaves like an organized crime gang on a superpower scale. There is little mercy or love left in the Russian soul.

    That being said, Georgia made a serious, serious blunder when it attacked the Ossetien separatists.

  14. Re:You know what's great about Soviet Georgia? by DesScorp · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Russians, Georgians, and Niggers are all sub-human."

    History of the Internet, Chapter 5: David Duke gets his first email address, Slashdot account.

    --
    Life is hard, and the world is cruel
  15. Cry havoc! by alex4point0 · · Score: 1, Funny

    and let slip the nerds of war.

    -- apologies to Shakespeare, &c.

    --
    By the time you finish reading this sentence will end.
  16. Slashdotted by isorox · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hmm, the preseident's site seems to be down now, I guess they could handle the attacks, but not slashdot. I wonder if Slashdot should be considered a WMD?