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Massive DDoS Cuts Myanmar Off From Net

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the haven't-they-suffered-enough dept.

Trailrunner7 writes "The nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, found its access to the Internet severed by a massive denial of service attack, according to a report by Arbor Networks. The source or motivation of the attack isn't known, but it is believed that the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have targeted the country's Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (or PTT), the main conduit for Internet traffic in and out of the authoritarian nation."

12 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Burma by owlnation · · Score: 4, Informative

    Since the U.S. (and many other countries) uses the name "Burma", due to not recognizing the Military Junta that currently rules this country, should /. not follow suit?

    Seems to me that if your country is ruled by a military junta, having your internet cut off is only to be expected. Being next door to China probably doesn't help.

    1. Re:Burma by Canazza · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's not based on country, merely the leanings of the people you work for that decide which name you give it. Yes, the UK and US generally go for Burma, but even in the UK some call it Myanmar.

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    2. Re:Burma by clarkkent09 · · Score: 4, Informative

      regime which can fairly be called more brutal than anything that happened under colonialism there.
       
      That's an understatement. From Wikipedia:
       
      Under British administration, Burma was the second-wealthiest country in South-East Asia. It had been the world's largest exporter of rice. During British administration, Burma supplied oil through the Burmah Oil Company. Burma also had a wealth of natural and labor resources. It produced 75% of the world's teak and had a highly literate population. The country was believed to be on the fast track to development.
      ...
      After a parliamentary government was formed in 1948, Prime Minister U Nu disastrously attempted to make Burma a welfare state and adopted central planning. Rice exports fell by two thirds and mineral exports by over 96%. Plans were partly financed by printing money, which led to inflation. The 1962 coup d'état was followed by an economic scheme called the Burmese Way to Socialism, a plan to nationalize all industries, with the exception of agriculture. The catastrophic program turned Burma into one of the world's most impoverished countries. Burma's admittance to Least Developed Country status by the UN in 1987 highlighted its economic bankruptcy.
      ...
      The economy is still rated as the least free in Asia (tied with North Korea). All fundamental market institutions are suppressed. Private enterprises are often co-owned or indirectly owned by state. The corruption watchdog organisation Transparency International in its 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index released on 26 September 2007 ranked Burma the most corrupt country in the world, tied with Somalia.

      --
      Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    3. Re:Burma by bmo · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, the Pennsylvania Dutch came from both the Low Countries (BENELUX) and Germany.

      "Even old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why they changed it I can't say. People just liked it better that way!" - TMBG

      --
      BMO

  2. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by devbox · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ah, the usual ignorance. Like every other Asian nation, Myanmar too has a lot net cafes people go to. I'm currently traveling between Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos and it's the same everywhere. And since one hour of computer use is usually charged less than half a dollar, it works great and if you want to you also have the usual multiplayer games you can play (along with cheap beer). It might actually be even better computer culture, since it's social activity and not just sitting alone at home.

  3. According to Wikipedia... by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 3, Informative

    Myanmar...

    According to Wikipedia, it's still called "Burma", not Myanmar.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:According to Wikipedia... by rakuen · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yes, it says Burma for the article title. Then directly after it, on the first line, it says it is officially the "Republic of the Union of Myanmar." Not to mention Myanmar redirects to the article.

    2. Re:According to Wikipedia... by clarkkent09 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Why'd they change it? Did people just like it better that way?
       
      I don't think people have much of a say when they live under a military dictatorship.

      --
      Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    3. Re:According to Wikipedia... by Jeremy+Erwin · · Score: 2, Informative

      The stars commanded it.

  4. Re:Rambo by durrr · · Score: 2, Informative

    If the statistics from the latest rambo movie could be applied over a longer period of time it would take 38 years for rambo to kill the entire current population of Burma.

  5. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Being a joke doesn't preclude people from reacting negatively to it."

    Well, you can certainly conclude that people who do are extremely weak-minded.

    --
    Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
  6. Myanmar Times? by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 2, Informative

    Perhaps you mean these people?

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.