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Chinese and Iranian Hackers Renew Their Attacks on US Companies (nytimes.com)

Posted by msmash on from the growing-tension dept.

Businesses and government agencies in the United States have been targeted in aggressive attacks by Iranian and Chinese hackers who security experts believe have been energized by President Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal last year and his trade conflicts with China. From a report: Recent Iranian attacks on American banks, businesses and government agencies have been more extensive than previously reported. Dozens of corporations and multiple United States agencies have been hit, according to seven people briefed on the episodes who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. The attacks, attributed to Iran by analysts at the National Security Agency and the private security firm FireEye, prompted an emergency order by the Department of Homeland Security during the government shutdown last month.

The Iranian attacks coincide with a renewed Chinese offensive geared toward stealing trade and military secrets from American military contractors and technology companies, according to nine intelligence officials, private security researchers and lawyers familiar with the attacks who discussed them on the condition of anonymity because of confidentiality agreements. A summary of an intelligence briefing read to The New York Times said that Boeing, General Electric Aviation and T-Mobile were among the recent targets of Chinese industrial-espionage efforts. The companies all declined to discuss the threats, and it is not clear if any of the hacks were successful.

105 comments

  1. Also desperately trying to steal secrets... by Narcocide · · Score: 2

    ... from my quake server.

    1. Re:Also desperately trying to steal secrets... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The companies all declined to discuss the threats, and it is not clear if any of the hacks were successful.

      Meanwhile, Wells Fargo customers have been finding that their direct deposits aren't being deposited. Sounds pretty successful to me.

      All your base belongs to us.

    2. Re:Also desperately trying to steal secrets... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, this one's a legitimate ATM riot. The machines refused to gouge the customers to WellsFargo specifications and shut themselves down. Damn human of them, unlike anything else attached to WellsFargo.
       

    3. Re: Also desperately trying to steal secrets... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awww poor things... And All they ever wanted was just to be allowed to download your folder with dirty monkey porn

  2. Its strange having friends... by wolfheart111 · · Score: 2

    who are also your countries nemesis. Strange times we live in...

    --
    [($)]
    1. Re:Its strange having friends... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You too have U.S. friends?

    2. Re: Its strange having friends... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah because hackers sit around watching the news, waiting for the geopolitical conditions to be just right in order to begin hacking shit.

      What retarded propaganda. Who believes this "energised by" shit?

    3. Re: Its strange having friends... by Alci12 · · Score: 1

      Hacker do sit around waiting to act when they are directed by the State that shelters them..(Russia/China/Iran/N.Korea)

  3. Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Clearly a Cassius belly. Let the missiles fly!

  4. TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Yes, let's find a way to blame this on President Trump, even though cyber attacks from various foreign nations - and not just Iran and China - have been a constant reality of the Internet for decades by now.

    But sure, blame it on President Trump. Because that's at all relevant.

    I can pretty much guarantee that the attacks were successful, because my experience with military contractors is that the best and brightest do not go into military IT. There are just too many rigid procedures and policies to deal with, ironically making it nearly impossible to properly secure the network because you have to follow twelve binders of rules and regulations that in theory are to help you keep things secure.

    1. Re:TDS by Jarwulf · · Score: 1

      Even if it was somehow triggered by trump's trade policy what does the NYT want us to do? Roll over and beg for mercy?

    2. Re:TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even if it was somehow triggered by trump's trade policy what does the NYT want us to do? Roll over and beg for mercy?

      While directly attempting to change the outcome of an election, by whatever means, is arguably an act of war, it is also true that it is unlikely we would go to war for it, because of the costs.

      I can't see hacking US companies treated even that seriously. Oh it might be a possible reason for sanctions of some kind, or possibly even tariffs, though in a less hamfisted way than we are doing them. Ultimately though it is up to US companies, perhaps aided by the government in small and large ways to defend their infrastructure and IP.

      The threat environment just gets worse, and it is almost more dangerous if we stop getting attacked, since then we would stop improving our defences and be even more vulnerable. Some leadership would certainly be nice though.

    3. Re:TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Remember the "Thanks Obama"? You morons blamed Obama for so many things eventually it became a joke to say the words.
      By why started this? It's because whoever is your president is under heavy scrutiny, by practically everyone on this planet. And that is a good thing to criticize those who have a lot of power over other people. Since we have to keep a close eye on people who are in the position to abuse the power we've given them.

      Of course for hypocrite group think faggots like you it's all different when it's YOUR guy who is criticized. Suddenly it's unfair and not helpful.
      You judge everyone else by their actions but your own group is judged by their intentions, which is natural to some degree. But the adults among us also think about intentions of others and what our own actions actually are.

    4. Re:TDS by Spamalope · · Score: 3
      Which in turn was a response to both:

      Everything great should be credited to Obama, and everything bad is Bush's fault (both repeated unceasingly, esp. the Bush thing)

      All of it is tiresome. So is calling out the other guy for being a hypocrite while you're being a hypocrite.

      I don't care who started it kids. I'm going to get out the belt if I have to stop this car. Or rather - if you're being a childish partisan I'll discount everything you have to say as you've discredited yourself. I don't need to see more poo flinging.

    5. Re:TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stop lying, traitor. Obama wasn't perfect and few claim he was, and Bush wasn't a complete monster though Cheney's policies were. Stop dithering, Republican faggots. Stop lying. It does not help you anymore.

    6. Re:TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, to reiterate. You're discounting everything I say because you're a childish partisan who appears to think I'm a childish partisan for not defending Trump.
      I'm slow clapping in my mind. Yes, I'm being an asshole. But being an asshole does have little bearing on the truth of a statement.
      How petty and infantile must one be to look over the fact that ALL people with a lot of power over other people should be watched closely and have their actions scrutinized. It doesn't matter from what party they are. The point is just because it happens to be Trump, who does a ton of questionable crap, we should not stop.

      I am not even from the US. Here where I live we have dozens of political parties of which none make any sense if you go beyond ideology and apply rational thinking to their reasoning. The poo flinging also exists here. It's become part of the process, it's freedom of expression, it reminds us that the people at the top are still people or at least pretending to be people. If you want power, you have to realize that you won't become the new king that stands above all law. Nope, you have to prepare for people to examine everything you do with a microscope. You don't just stop if the person at the top happens to be 'your guy'.
      Now I look at the US political system, where all the stupid ideologies practically have to be divided into two camps.

    7. Re:TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "because my experience with military contractors is that the best and brightest do not go into military IT."
      You better go get more experience then because the military doesn't rely on in-house employees. They spend a considerable amount of their budget on third party contractors. Neither China or Russia has access to the best pool of hackers on the planet. They certainly do not pay top dollar for talent either. Besides the country leading the world in cyber related security and offensive cyber weapons is Israel. Of course the only way to prove who is the best is to launch a full on cyber attack aimed at crippling your enemy. And the US, during the Obama administration, has adopted a policy that equates a cyber attack with a nuclear attack. Every piece of machinery in the US could be disrupted but that won't effect the 10 or so nuclear armed submarines that are constantly patrolling the oceans. Submarines operating under strict protocols of what to do if communications are disrupted.
       

    8. Re:TDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the US political system, where all the stupid ideologies practically have to be divided into two camps.

      two stupid sides of the same evil coin

  5. why ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    So when Google, Facebook and Microsoft and other American companies take personal information its fine, but if others reverse the favour against American companies its wrong ?

    I fail to see the difference, if information is valuable what is the difference between personal and company information and why does it matter who does it ?

    1. Re:why ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Google, Facebook, and Microsoft are companies that collect information legally and openly, albeit in the fine print. To avoid that don't use their services.

      China, Iran, and Russia have paid government workers who actively break into whatever they can and steal whatever they can for the benefit of their governments and private industries while giving nothing of value back.

      If you fail to see the difference, you must be paid to do so or have the intellectual depth of a puddle.

    2. Re: why ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Found one of those folks paid by the mentioned parties to post online.

      Do you also fail to see the difference between jaywalking and murder? They are both crimes...

      If Facebook, Google, and MS start actually "taking" personal information, yeah people will have bigger problems with it than this topic. Heck, most have problems with these guys recording & using publicly available and volunteered information.

  6. never ending wmd on credit holycost ending.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    abruptly? badly scripted contrived constant conflict towards acquisition/control of other folk's resources/real estate? the lowest of greed fear ego based personal gain motives, aside from fear?

  7. It is lawful in the U.S. by pigsycyberbully · · Score: 0, Interesting

    That is actually not true all the attacks are coming from the United States and its lawful in the U.S. to indulge in this type of activities espionage the theft of other countries intellectual properties. We all know that what ever the U.S. complains about they are doing to others.

    The U.K. works differently most of their resources go towards blackmailing social media to prevent dissidents speaking out about U.K. corruption demanding a kill switch on Facebook to have dissidents deleted from social media YouTube already abides by this.

    The big corruption comes from the five eyes your Intel processor spies on you and there is no secret about that. https://youtu.be/99VgZlkwHIU

    And if you are wondering why big companies are deleting https://youtu.be/cz4XjOkFfzE

  8. More JEWISH sabre rattling... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh look - the Jewish media is LYING to us again, to get us to attack their enemies! Let's all go and die in a war to save 'precious' Israel.

    Remember "weapons of mass destruction" and Iraq? This is laughable. How can anybody be stupid enough to believe the lies of the Jewish media?

  9. The New York Times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    is fake news

  10. unlike US that would never steal trade secrets .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    from alied countries.

  11. How by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They know these are attacks from Chinese and Iranians how?

    1. Re:How by Spamalope · · Score: 1
      Officially: Things like router flow logs

      Unofficially: We've compromised their networks and watched them do it.

      The question is why say we know? Is this public notice actually a warning?

    2. Re:How by Mr.+Dollar+Ton · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I vaguely recall news that the US government has developed and is actively using tools that make US government hacking look like it is coming from there. So maybe the US is just lying again, and that is why this is a "public notice".

    3. Re:How by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I vaguely recall news that the US government has developed and is actively using tools that make US government hacking look like it is coming from there.

      Cyrillic writing.
      Reusing captured malware.
      Pivoting.
      VPN.
      The good old fashioned proxy.

      Teenagers in the 80's were doing this. Only the first, second, and fourth were shown as proof that "Russia Hacked the US elections." Everybody and their dog believed that line which was even less credible than WMDs in Iraq.

      Otherwise knowledgeable technical people on slashdot turn off their brain when security or politics gets involved.

    4. Re:How by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Their IP addresses trace back directly to China and Iran. Spoofing IP addresses is illegal in those countries, so we have irrefutable proof! Oh, and Russia too. I got a flat tire on the way to work. It's all their fault.

  12. Dear China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lots of people, strong economy, lots of successful trade relations, excellent technology and industrial expertise. It looks like you are a successful world power.

    How about instead of copying the 'american model' you could stand up and a be decent trustworthy, and faithful country that we know you can be.

    Every single Chinese person I have worked with or called a friend has been amazing.

    When we see stuff like this on the net, it is just so disappointing as you are just following the 'others'. We waste so much utility battling eachother (economically, socially and militarily) and we could use that energy to do so much more.

    Be a country your children's children will be proud of.

    Signed, a hopeful future.

  13. Jewyork times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Israel's sad and pathetic attempts to start wars are truly evil. Yes sure "Iran" is doing hacking. Perhaps the NSA and CIA should stop installing backdoors in all our computer and network equipment.

    Also you can't steal secrets. Secrets and ideas are not property. You can uncover secrets and you can share ideas. Secrets are usually based in evil.

    USA fast on track to some orwellian totalitarianism. Congratulations.

    1. Re:Jewyork times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well Said!

  14. Re:Oh Noez Haxx0rz! by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Communists and a theocratic republic sneaking around wide open US plain text networks.
    Walking out entire US databases for free.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  15. Interesting ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The blogs in countries other than the USA report exactly the same thing: Massively increased "hacking" and "cracking" by the USA and its secret government agencies directed at stealing from non-USA Government Agencies, Banks, and Corporations.

    One sided propaganda is just that: propaganda.

    Whatsisname (the German fellow) would be proud ...

  16. I'm curious: how do they know their nationality? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm curious:
    How do they know their nationality?

    By IP address? That would be ridiculous. One can (and most likely will) spoof them.
    So how do they know this is not a false flag attack from hijacked Chinese/Iranian IPs carried out by someone else?

    What are other sources?
    I'm just curious.

  17. Tiananmen Square - use the great firewall? by Spamalope · · Score: 1
    Has anyone tried putting information about the Tiananmen Square massacre in their server HELO message? Or hidden in white on white text?

    i.e. can these things be blocked by the Great Firewall or do they have official sanction and a pass?

    1. Re: Tiananmen Square - use the great firewall? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We've tried putting a list of mass civilian murders committed by the USA in our helo, but it wouldn't fit.

  18. Re: Dear America by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Dear America

    Please be a decent, trustworthy country we know you can be

    The world

  19. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by Alci12 · · Score: 2

    The major security agencies have slightly more sophisticated ways to tracking attack sources than the IP address!

  20. Blah blah blah. Show us the evidence. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Or stop with the unfounded accusations. It makes the US incredibly untrustworthy when you have definitely been proven to do exactly the very thing you accuse other countries of, but without providing evidence.

    1. Re:Blah blah blah. Show us the evidence. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, all these things should be going to CERT, so they are promptly patched and closed forever.
      Oh, wait, these are the backdoors USA is keeping reserved for when they want to attack.
      Security begins at home, no exceptions, and no 'better not patch that' loopholes.
      The question remains is retaining defective security in the national interest? If the answer is yes, stop bleating about insignificant stuff getting out. YOU chose that setting. Else get out of bed and fix the problem.

    2. Re:Blah blah blah. Show us the evidence. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When we invade, the wumaos will be the first people against the wall.

  21. As long as American keeps doing the same... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    why wouldn't China and other return the favor? Here's an eye-opener for you: one of the NSA's core missions has always been what they call "technology retrieval", which is just a fancy way of saying industrial espionage.

    It's always funny to see the US government and their little citizens accusing other countries of stealing from them.

  22. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And we can totally believe everything they tell us!

  23. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by Alci12 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well if I have to choose between the claims of various western security agencies or China i'm going to choose the former.

  24. FEAR NOT FELLOW AMERICANS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is being handled by the White House. Rest assured, you are in good hands. Big hands. Not small. Big.

    1. Re: FEAR NOT FELLOW AMERICANS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The word youre looking for is HUGE libtard. And you better fear the al-Qaeda sleeper cells hidding in caves in Afghanistan. Those guys can blow up skyscrapers with jet fuel. Real news on TV says so. LOL

      ae911truth dot org

    2. Re: FEAR NOT FELLOW AMERICANS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They use that magical 2001 jet fuel too - the kind that melts jets.

  25. why though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if you are so l33t you can hack shit and make $, why wait for orders in your downtime?

    1. Re:why though? by Alci12 · · Score: 1

      If you are a state employed hacker (and China and Russia have them) you attack what they want when they want. Its not always about money but infomation

    2. Re: why though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh Bullshit. They do it full time.

    3. Re:why though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because they throw you in the goulag, or set your social credit score negative of you don't come to heel when the government pulls the leash.
      The money you could make isn't worth anything in those cases as you'll be unable to spend it.

  26. T-Mobile by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    T-Mobile is not a US company.

    1. Re: T-Mobile by spinitch · · Score: 1

      the brand name used by the mobile communications subsidiaries of the German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom AG. So when discussing T-Mobile in the context of US Telecom it is usually the US Co which is a partially owned by DT.

  27. Resistance is futile by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You Will be

  28. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like what, they determine nationality by the intervals between the keystrokes? Or do they just make it up, as they did with Iraq's "WMD programme"?

  29. scared of the big bad hackers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mawmy, Daddeh, I'm sCaReD of the big wad whackers who study our OS code better than we do!!

  30. Beacon of freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dear America

    Please be a decent, trustworthy country we know you can be

    The world

    There was a time when America was Great because it was a beacon of freedom & liberty, it is at its weakest when it descends into isolationism.

    1. Re:Beacon of freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There was a time when America was Great because it was a beacon of freedom & liberty, it is at its weakest when it descends into isolationism.

      The US had an official position of isolationism well into the 20th century. The statue of liberty went up and the US was "a beacon of freedom & liberty" during those many decades.

      Besides, it's nuts that people want freedom and liberty for people other than those born in the US, but stronger and stronger restrictions on fundamental rights for everyone who already lives here or becomes a citizen.

  31. Null route bad actors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The west needs to start cutting the bad actors off from the internet.

    Practically every hacking attempt on my sites originates in Russia, with a few coming from China.

  32. Re:Oh Noez Haxx0rz! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Which theocratic republic are you referring too ?

    The American backed theocratic states in the middle east like the Saudis, or the theocratic christian republicans in the USA ?

  33. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

    Well British security just said that Huawei gear isn't that bad and that any security concerns can be managed, so I guess their stuff is okay again.

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  34. What a Joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So china and iran now take their orders from Trump, russia also.
    People are really over the edge.

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  39. Registered /.ers reviews #5/5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

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  41. Hosts efficacy recently vs. threats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

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  42. Security pros etc. QUOTED on hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "classic Windows hosts trick to block the Coinhive or Crypto-Loot domains" - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/a-new-player-joins-coinhive-on-the-browser-cryptojacking-scene/ - BLEEPING COMPUTER

    ZD NET http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-a-hosts-file-to-improve-your-internet-experience/ "Hosts files really shine by letting you block ads, spyware sites, malware sites, & tracking sites"

    SANS ("A related approach to the DNS issue is to create a hosts file on each system that sends requests for spyware to some place else" hosts by myself & RAMU right @ START of "malware explosion" mid 2005 on) https://isc.sans.edu/forums/di...

    Aryeh Goretsky/ESET/NOD32: hosts = good security https://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=7442373&amp.cid=49747129/

    Oliver Day (SYMANTEC/SECURITYFOCUS) http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/491/

    Spybot S&D uses hosts.

    APK

    P.S.=> Malwarebytes' hpHosts hosts & RECOMMENDS my program forum.hosts-file.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4290

  43. Even CHINA copied me (vs. DNS down/redirected) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who did it 1st: China or me? I did - dates are my proof https://theregister.co.uk/2017... w/ the FACT China rampantly STEALS U.S. Intellectual properties & military secrets!

    * IMITATION truly IS the SINCEREST FORM of FLATTERY!

    (... & proves hosts work vs. DNS faults in tracking you via dns request logs (since you avoid it & resolve FASTER locally using hosts) + DNS being downed OR Kaminsky REDIRECT security flaw misdirected poisoned (or vs. DNSChanger))

    US DHS issues DNS redirect is HUGE danger (not w/ hosts vs.) https://threatpost.com/gov-war...

    APK

    P.S.=> Folks, It's NOT EASY being "World-Class" like me (lol - 100,000++ users prove it for me) - enjoy the fruits of my labors for FREE + going FASTER/SAFER/MORE RELIABLY online (w/ a bit more anonymity too via my program)... apk

  44. Registered /.ers reviews #1/5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your software is just fine - well written, functional... I'm going to continue using the Host File Engine by mmell February 17, 2017

    Your premise that hostfiles are a good way to deal with advertising and malvertising is quite valid - by JazzLad April 20, 2016

    his hosts program is actually pretty good by xenotransplant August 10 2015

    his hosts tool is actually useful for those cases in which one does indeed want to locally block stuff outright while consuming minimum system resources by alexgieg September 25 2015

    I like your host file system by Karmashock September 09 2015

    that APK guy, I use his host file by rogoshen1 Tuesday March 03, 2015

    I personally use a HOSTS file blocker produced from a genius called APK by 110010001000 October 27 2017

    * For the Win32/64 model!

    APK

    P.S.=> Linux model's faster/more efficient/better MERGE feature too - More coming... apk

  45. Registered /.ers reviews #2/5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apk has the answer for that - really... kill automatic updates by adding a hosts file entry setting updates.steam.com or whatever to 127.0.0.1. You have to find the right hostname for each software you want to block updates on by raymorris (2726007) on Friday July 06, 2018

    APK your posts on this and the hosts file posts, and more, have never been in error and/or bad advice by BlueStrat (756137) on Wednesday June 21, 2017

    I support APK's stand on the hosts file and can't see why it's not used more than it is. My hosts file is 144247 lines long (4,332 Kb) it & a firewall serves me very well - by Trax3001BBS (2368736)

    ABP is insufficient as a solid hosts file does everything APK reminds us about fast turtle September 17 2013

    You need APK's hosts file - by Teun (17872) on Wednesday August 06, 2014

    * For the Win32/64 model!

    APK

    P.S.=> Linux model's faster/more efficient + BETTER merge feature - More coming... apk

  46. Registered /.ers reviews #3/5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    APK is totally right on this count. Adblock Plus on Firefox mobile is a dog on older, or lower end, phones. A hostfile based adblocker makes for a much better experience in this context. Of course, your phone has to be rooted, which isn't the case with Firefox + adblock." - by chihowa on Saturday May 16, 2015

    APK solution STILL relevant Thud457 June 11 2015

    In a footnote, I would like to note that I find your hosts file admirable - by vel-ex-tech (4337079) on Tuesday November 24, 2015

    APK's monolithic hosts file is looking pretty good at the moment - by Culture20 on Thursday November 17

    you're right about hosts files - by drinkypoo (153816) on Thursday May 26

    APK, I know people give you a lot of shit regarding hosts, but please don't ever stop - by nasredin (958927) on Friday June 12, 2015 @03:34PM

    * For the Win32/64 model!

    APK

    P.S.=> Linux model's faster/more efficient + BETTER merge feature - More coming... apk

  47. Registered /.ers reviews #4/5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    APK is kinda right... I've given up on JS based adblocking and gone to blackholing in /etc/hosts, just like it was back in the 90s. The computational load has gotten intolerable for any ad-blocking using JS. I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works. - by bmo (77928) on Thursday October 15, 2015

    get around to 'installing' a hosts file list, not sure which one, likely the one from someonewhocares.org. If it works as well as what I used for a while about ten years ago, I'll be happy. And grateful to APK for the lesson and the reminder. - by kermidge (2221646) on Wednesday March 27

    I actually went and downloaded a 16k line hosts file and started using that after seeing that post, you know just for trying it out. some sites load up faster. - by gl4ss (559668) on Thursday November 17

    dammit MS, you proved APK right about something by lgw

    * For the Win32/64 model!

    APK

    P.S.=> Linux model's faster/more efficient + BETTER merge feature - More coming... apk

  48. Registered /.ers reviews #5/5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (APK) is still right a hosts file really does work. It even blocked a some of the video ads that were inserted into a stream OrangeTide February 10 2016

    the Host File Engine performs exactly as promised - by mmell (832646) on Thursday February 16, 2017

    I do use APK's host file on all my systems at home by OrangeTide December 01 2017

    I've never tried to belittle (APK's work), I've flat out said it's good - by BronsCon (927697) on Thursday February 11, 2016 @06:48PM (#51491263)

    (Toss on 100,000++ users worldwide too!)

    * For the Win32/64 model!

    APK

    P.S.=> Linux model's faster/more efficient + BETTER merge feature... apk

  49. Re:Block sources of their attacks... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nice job running the powerless dipshits dry of downmodpoints again that they abused to hide your posts apk https://tech.slashdot.org/comm...

  50. Thanks & it makes me say this (tradition, lol) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: It's just "too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2ez'" vs. unskilled uneducated DOLTS that are advertisers, webmasters, malware makers/botnet herders!

    OR

    INFERIOR inefficient "so-called 'competitors'" w/ "Bolt-on-'MoAr' ILLOGIC-LOGIC" full of SECURITY ISSUES (DNS/Antivirus) & SLOWDOWN!

    (Especially vs. hosts dns resolves slower & can be redirect poisoned or downed + Antivirus? Look up Tavis Ormandy on THAT note, lol)

    OR

    Inefficient &/or CRIPPLED BY DEFAULT (adblock) souled-out to advertisers browser addons!

    (... of which NO SINGLE ONE does more than hosts do (& no DNS benefits https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... in more speed, security & anonymity vs. DNS requestlog trackings) YET USE MORE, doing LESS (lol, talk STUPID) - WHICH GOOGLE IS KILLING THEM ALL SOON on no less https://www.bleepingcomputer.c... )

    APK

    P.S.=> "Oh, what a wonderful feeling - oh what a wonderful day - I've got this feeling EVERYTHING's GOING MY WAY"... apk

  51. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some portion of the people involved in the activity are also on the CIA (or otehr equivalent agencies) payroll and are filing reports on their own group's activities.
    You know: espionage, spy-craft, covert intelligence.

  52. Re: Dear America by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    When has America ever been trustworthy?

    It's not that we are inherently trustworthy, it's that we have a mostly open system so that our flaws are likely to be eventually found out such that we have to keep ourselves in check.

    If you can get away with bad deeds, you will most likely increase your bad deeds. That's Human Nature 101. Checks and balances matter, and that generally requires openness, something China & Russia lack.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  53. Forgot Russia by manu0601 · · Score: 1

    A headline that does not point Russia as being the evil culprit? There must be some secret lot against free world to suppress the information. Perhaps Russia is involved.

  54. Re: Dear America by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    Correction: China, Russia, and Iran lack.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  55. Re: I'm curious: how do they know their nationalit by Rujiel · · Score: 1

    Wow, who the fuck marked this pavlovian kneekerk drivel as insightful? "USA! USA!"

  56. Want proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    $ egrep 36.255.222 /var/log/mail.log
    Feb 18 09:49:02 spam2 postfix/postscreen[23713]: CONNECT from [36.255.222.223]:33475 to [172.22.22.61]:25
    Feb 18 09:49:02 spam2 postfix/postscreen[23713]: PREGREET 12 after 0.23 from [36.255.222.223]:33475: EHLO ADMIN\r\n
      2k lines removed to get passed /. "lameness filtering"

    inetnum: 36.255.220.0 - 36.255.223.255
    netname: ZEN-CN
    descr: Zenlayer Network Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    descr: No 58. JiangChang Road. Suite 701
    country: CN
    org: ORG-ZNTC1-AP
    admin-c: ZNTS1-AP
    tech-c: ZNTS1-AP
    Seems like China to me. No professional in their right mind would ever want to appear to come from a Chinese IP on purpose, except, perhaps, NK.
     

  57. Re:I'm curious: how do they know their nationality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You've read way too many books from that racist prick Tom Clancy, old chap. The reality doesn't work that way, tho.

  58. Re:"Hacks" Pfft! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China and Iran have been the scapegoats for a long time now. They're laughing in Haifa.