TechLetters #130 - Space stability. Hacked TV channels in Russia display deepfake-Putin. North Korea-linked IT workers introduce security bugs in products. Apple privacy feature news.
My analysis in Just Security of uses space of technology in context of Ukraine war, and also risks of space operations. International law stipulates that activities of Starlink may be directly attributable to U.S. State. This introduces multiple complexities.
- What happens when Starlink internet is used in context of weapons systems, for example drone communication? The responsibility falls to U.S. This is a problem of stability and a risk of escalations.
- Russia said that they may designate space satellites as legitimate military objectives for attacks. Furthermore, Russia does not accept the restraining provisions of International Humanitarian Law to apply in space operations. It is then unclear what would guide their actions.
- What may happen is anyone's guess but Russia has tested anti-satellite measures (even if on a limited scale), and also rendez-vous operations (maneuvering in space) capability. Anyway, US Space Force would be unable to answer. In general, it is nonsensical to shot down satellites. This only builds space debris on the orbit. This is also why it would make no sense for the US to reply in a tit-for-tat. To say the least, it would be unreasonable.
Cyberattacks are also a potential measure.
Security
Hacked TV channels in Russia. Cable TV channels in Crimea were allegedly hacked and broadcasted a message of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence about the upcoming Ukraine (counter-)offensive. Looks like a well-executed (lawful) information warfare activity. The signal was cut by RU 'authorities'
Cyber corsairs raiding Western companies. North Korea's cyberattacks program "earned" the State $3b. Finances about half (50%) of the cost of the ballistic missile development programme. Cryptocurrency theft on an industrial scale. Thousands of "legalized" people around the world do it. These employees of companies are also (apparently) injecting cybersecurity bugs into products. This would make them easier to hack. “they will hire Western “front people”—essentially actors who sit through job interviews to obscure the fact that North Koreans are the ones actually being hired. Once hired, they will sometimes make small changes to products that allow them to be hacked, former victims and investigators say.”
Privacy
Apple privacy update. Details. Private web browsing (“Private Browsing now locks when not in use, allowing a user to keep tabs open even when stepping away from the device”), new permissions for photos, Link tracking protection (“websites add extra information to their URLs in order to track users across other websites. Now this information will be removed from the links users share in Messages and Mail”). Safety: “Check In automatically detects when the user has reached their intended destination, and will let selected contacts know”. About privacy of Vision Pro goggles: "eye tracking information not shared with Apple, third-party apps, websites. EyeSight includes a visual indicator that makes it clear to others when a user is capturing a spatial photo or video".
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