Slashdot Mirror
Sweden Secretly Blames Russian Hackers For Taking Out Air Traffic Control: Report (theregister.co.uk)
John Leyden, reporting for The Register: Sweden suspects a hacker group linked to Russian intelligence was responsible for an attack on its air traffic control systems last November, we're told. Air traffic control systems across much of Sweden were unavailable on November 4. Computer problems meant air traffic controllers were unable to use their displays, an issue that prompted the cancellation of multiple domestic and international flights. Arlanda, Landvetter and Bromma airports were particularly affected. The Swedish Civil Aviation Administration publicly blamed a solar storm. However, behind the scenes the Swedes were notifying NATO about a serious, ongoing cyber attack, Norwegian news outlet aldrimer.no reports.
it still amazes me that SCADA implementations have back doors and direct Internet connectivity. Air Gaps people! No Internet/Intranet access to SCADA systems and access restrictions such as no USB thumb drives in machines and only personnel, verified and doubled up touch the network. It's pragmatic and off the shelf. Use it and then you won't potentially crash planes.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
They are not, but whom else could they turn to? The Swedes can't fight Russia themselves. It's too big.
Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
I they are so resourceful for fighting Russians, why where they so afraid of them?
Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
It took me a moment to figure out what you were writing about, then I realized you think that the body of the Earth somehow shields northern countries from the effects of geomagnetic storms. Solar storms don't work that way.
A geomagnetic storm occurs when a mass of charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth's magnetosphere, which is many times the Earth's diameter. Those particles follow the magnetic lines of force down to the polar areas, (even to the pole that is experiencing winter) where the particles are absorbed by the ionosphere. This current flow generates a magnetic field which in turn creates numerous effects, such as geomagnetically induced currents inpower transmission lines.
There are basically no major inhabited areas as far south as Sweden is north; Stockholm is around 59N latitude; there are no major settlements south of 45S or so excepting a few villages and research stations. So the question should be if Sweden is suffering a geomagnetic storm, why not Russia, Norway, Finland and Russia?
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
Ever heard about the Whiskey on the Rocks incident?