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Chinese Govt Spyware Puts Computers At Risk

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the big-brother-speaks-mandarin dept.

Ihmhi writes "China's mandatory 'Green Dam Youth Escort' web filter software apparently has a series of severe flaws. In addition to not working on Linux or MacOS, traffic between the software and its servers is unencrypted." I'm sure it only gets better after that.

17 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Linux people always complaining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In addition to not working on Linux or MacOS

    FFS, just run it in Wine!

    1. Re:Linux people always complaining by mcgrew · · Score: 4, Funny

      In this case, not running in Linux or Mac is a feature, not a bug!

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
  2. Security 101 by sakdoctor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do not write any code that could intentionally be used to DDOS your ass.
    But seriously, this is great. It's going to be one hell of a show when it gets cracked.

  3. This software is legally mandated. by Wonko+the+Sane · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So does that mean that selling computers with Linux or OSX installed is illegal? Or will they get away with "installing" the software on those computers even though it can not function?

    1. Re:This software is legally mandated. by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's mandated that it be sold with all new computers. It doesn't need to be installed, just supplied with the PC.

      Think of it as an AOL Free Trial CD. You remember, the free coaster they shipped.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
  4. It's chinese stuff by courteaudotbiz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey, it's Chinese stuff for god's sake, did you expect some quality out of it?

  5. Re:Is the software available to download anywhere? by sakdoctor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wouldn't it be more fun to disassemble the software, find the gaping flaws, and simultaneously take 300 million computer off the net?

    Epic lulz would have to be redefined from then on.

  6. Your friendly Chinese government official here. by BlueKitties · · Score: 5, Informative

    The "mandatory" software these computers will be shipped with is no different than a VChip inside of all modern American TVs; it's a feature people may use, but are allowed to uninstall at their sole discretion. Besides, this stuff runs on Windows, it's just one more straw on the pile of ways to hijack an unprotected computer. We also choose a tool that doesn't run on Linux because we're sick of typing 'sudo apt-get install wine' everytime we install a new Linux distro. This assures minimal typing for all Chinese Linux users.

    --
    "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad." [Ecclesiastes 7:3]
    1. Re:Your friendly Chinese government official here. by Darkness404 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      not as an excuse to defame a government for trying to give parents more tools to protect their children.

      "protect" them from what? From the evils of porn? This isn't 1995 here people, and its pretty hard to not know your going to a porn site today especially if you use a search engine to find sites. If your kid is searching for porn then obviously they aren't as "innocent" as you think they are. And whenever their censorship is under the guise of "protecting" the people from such evil ideas as human rights and alternate ideologies, it gets quite suspicious whenever they try to mandate more controls.

      Again, if you do not wish to use this software, please feel free to uninstall it -- it's only there for those who want to use it.

      Thats nice, but why install it in the first place? There are loads of internet "protection" filters out there, mandating the installation of one, especially from a government that constantly abuses its citizens should be cause of concern or alarm. Don't you think?

      --
      Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  7. Bad move ... by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Funny

    "We found a series of software flaws," explained Isaac Mao, a blogger and social entrepreneur in China

    ... when contacted later for further comment, it was discovered that Mao had been assigned to 18 years of reeducation through labour in the coal-mining provinces.

    --
    If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    1. Re:Bad move ... by BlueKitties · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, we've assured his skills will remain in good use. If you wish to speak on him, please PM him on the US Shattered Hand Realm for WoW, where he has been assigned 18 years of reeducation through labor in the WoW-gold mining servers.

      --
      "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad." [Ecclesiastes 7:3]
  8. When you buttume ... by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Funny

    "We have buttiduously canvbutted the industry, buttessed what is available and buttembled the finest selection of contractors chosen in a completely open manner for this buttignment. Butterting free speech is one thing, but a triparbreaste committee considers that that does not justify mere pbuttive breastillation at the expense of others. The filters will buttociatively clbuttify all communications and filter then, I can butture you, rebuttemble them with surpbutting exacbreastude in any quanbreasty. Consbreastuents can be rebuttured that a mulbreastude of industry compebreastors will butture quality and keep our clbuttrooms safe. Green Dam will not embarbutt us!"

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  9. Only Windows, only IE by bugbeak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From the article: "One blogger posted a screenshot of the software purportedly blocking an attempt to visit a porn site using Microsoft's Internet Explorer. But, he said, there was no problem accessing the site using the Firefox web browser. "

  10. Re:International competition for stupidest governm by powerlord · · Score: 4, Funny

    Lately it's like all the countries of the world are engaged in an Olympic competition to see who can screw themselves up the most through acts of extreme stupidity and greed. What the fuck is wrong with people?

    I don't know what you just said except "Olympics", and we all know what we do at the Olympics, right? Support your country to be number one, no matter WHAT the event!

    U-S-A! U-S-A!~

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    This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
  11. Linux is not ready for the desktop by TheRaven64 · · Score: 4, Funny

    First, it's incompatible with all of those Windows-only worms, now it won't run invasive government-mandated spyware. At this rate, it will never be the year of the Linux desktop.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  12. It's not supposed to work by Ritz_Just_Ritz · · Score: 4, Informative

    After spending a number of years living/working in China, I've come to the conclusion that the government just doesn't care if this new "feature" works or not. The goal isn't to really censor here, but to let people know that "the man" is watching. In China, that is enough to keep the vast majority of people in line. There are still tens (perhaps hundreds) of millions of people that have vivid memories of the Cultural Revolution. They know all too well what happens to the squeaky wheel and tailor their activities accordingly. Sad, but that's the way it is.

  13. Re:Is the software available to download anywhere? by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wouldn't it be more fun to disassemble the software, find the gaping flaws, and simultaneously take 300 million computer off the net?

    Wouldn't it be more fun to use the gaping flaws to build a botnet, DDoS various targets and blame it on China?

    --
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