Massive DDoS Cuts Myanmar Off From Net

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Massive DDoS Cuts Myanmar Off From Net

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday November 4, 2010 @05:00AM 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."

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All the computers were unable to connect by Anonymous Coward · 2010-11-04 05:01 · Score: 3, Funny

both of them.
1. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by devbox · 2010-11-04 05:10 · 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.
2. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by rakuen · 2010-11-04 05:27 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Being a joke doesn't preclude people from reacting negatively to it. I mean, haven't you told a racist joke before? You just read one, after all.
  
  That said, I'd like to personally apologize to the people of Myanmar. I know you're trying really hard for that third computer. You're almost there, just a bit more!
3. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by cheekyjohnson · 2010-11-04 05:33 · 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!
4. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by techgarten · 2010-11-04 06:15 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  This isn't a joke. Shame on you. I've been there almost a half a dozen times, setting up hotel systems. If you have any idea what kind of censorship the good people of Myanmar go through every day, you'll understand. When I was there, almost every 3 months, GMail was blocked. But every one there had an email address. And guess what, they had a GMAIL address. Not Yahoo, not Hotmail (which were both accessible), but GMail. For the simple fact that they were told that could not have one. I love you Burma. And I am wishing that things get better.
5. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by Jah-Wren+Ryel · 2010-11-04 07:38 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I mean, haven't you told a racist joke before? You just read one, after all.
  That wasn't a racist joke.
  It was a political joke referring to the junta's restrictions on internet use by the country's population.
  
  --
  When information is power, privacy is freedom.
6. Re:All the computers were unable to connect by hkmwbz · 2010-11-04 11:15 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  People who react negatively to jokes that promote xenophobic stereotypes are extremely weak-minded?
  
  --
  Clever signature text goes here.
Posting it on slashdot by ewhenn · 2010-11-04 05:09 · Score: 5, Funny

... will help them out.

clever attempt at social engneering for more /dot effect! :P
and nobody noticed by digitaldc · 2010-11-04 05:09 · Score: 2, Funny

Myanmar is what now?

--
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
1. Re:and nobody noticed by wickedskaman · 2010-11-04 05:20 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  It's the stuff those big shiny balloons are made of.
  
  --
  Sand's overrated... it's just tiny little rocks.
Re:yep by countSudoku() · 2010-11-04 05:09 · Score: 2, Funny

How the fuck am I supposed to get my news from the Myanmar Country Gazette web site, you insensitive clod!?!?

--
This is the NSA, we're gonna geet U h@x0r5! Also, what is a h@x0r5?
Burma by owlnation · 2010-11-04 05:10 · 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 · 2010-11-04 05:13 · 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 Orga · 2010-11-04 05:16 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  The U.S.? You yourself use outdated names for nations. Please refer to the United Federation of Conglomerated Corporations properly.
3. Re:Burma by e4g4 · 2010-11-04 05:19 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  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?
  Burma shave.
  
  --
  The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. - Albert Einstein
4. Re:Burma by clarkkent09 · 2010-11-04 05:31 · 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.
5. Re:Burma by ElectricTurtle · 2010-11-04 05:41 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  As far as I'm concerned, Burma is simply the English name. Just like English speakers say 'France' or formally 'French Republic' instead of 'Republique Francaise', and the Germans call it 'Frankreich'. If people want to read a bunch of chauvinism into it that's their problem, but be sure to wag your finger at every other language that has different names for countries. And I expect you to start calling Norway 'Norge', Greece 'Hellas', Sweden 'Sverige', etc. etc. you politically correct twit.
  
  --
  I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
6. Re:Burma by BrianRoach · 2010-11-04 05:45 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Not to mention that it's amazingly coincidental that the internet goes away days before the first elections in 20 years.
  No election observers, no foreign journalists, no connection with internet. All signs point to the junta cutting off its people from the rest of the world.
7. Re:Burma by bhcompy · 2010-11-04 06:56 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Who put "Made in Taiwan" on all their goods. Taipei is merely used so the Chinese won't have any more reason than they already have to take it back in to its busom, and nations go with it because China can fuck all your shit up no matter who you are.
8. Re:Burma by bmo · 2010-11-04 07:06 · 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
9. Re:Burma by Kittenman · 2010-11-04 09:53 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  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.
  Dare I say - an example of benevolent colonialism? It's not always bad, y'know. Check out Zimbabwe for another example of a country that's gone down the toilet since the Brits moved out.
  
  --
  "The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
According to Wikipedia... by Frosty+Piss · 2010-11-04 05:13 · 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 · 2010-11-04 05:17 · 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 Anonymous Coward · 2010-11-04 05:19 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Attacks sent / to Myanmar / Have no internet / Near and far / Burma-Shave
3. Re:According to Wikipedia... by corbettw · 2010-11-04 05:19 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Why'd they change it? Did people just like it better that way?
  
  --
  God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
4. Re:According to Wikipedia... by clarkkent09 · 2010-11-04 05:23 · 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.
5. Re:According to Wikipedia... by coolsnowmen · 2010-11-04 05:26 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  USA, in a pro-democracy stance, still officially recognize it as Burma because ruling military of Burma declared it Myanmar and refused to allow the democratically elected government to take power (1989).
6. Re:According to Wikipedia... by Jeremy+Erwin · 2010-11-04 05:29 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  The stars commanded it.
Oblig. quote by HiggsBison · 2010-11-04 05:17 · Score: 2, Funny

Q: Why did you say "Burma"?
A: I panicked.

--
My other car is a 1984 Nark Avenger.
Burma? by CompMD · 2010-11-04 05:25 · Score: 4, Funny

DDoS
Problems?
Script
Kiddies
Punch 'em
Out
Burma
Shave
Re:Rambo by durrr · 2010-11-04 05:32 · 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.
Myanmar Times? by Frosty+Piss · 2010-11-04 05:39 · Score: 2, Informative

Perhaps you mean these people?

--
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
Re:Brilliant by Tr3vin · 2010-11-04 06:01 · Score: 2, Insightful

In a place like Burma, the normal citizens are not accessing any form of the Internet. The people of Burma would really appreciate having control of their own country, or maybe food. The Internet is pretty far down on the list.
Aung San Suu Kyi house arrest extended. by srodden · 2010-11-04 14:39 · Score: 2

In related news, the junta uses the DDOS as an excuse to extend Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest by another decade.

--
Why can't we let people believe whatever they like? It's not like a little religion has ever hurt anyone.