TechLetters #94 - China condemning US cyberattacks. Albania severing diplomatic in response to Iran's cyberattacks. Technology somewhere in there fueling the conflicts.
Security
Albanian government systems hit with significant cyber operations. From Iran. Until now this sounds like standard business… Then the unprecedented happened: Albania severed diplomatic ties with Iran. The cyber operation was wide, reaching many government systems. It impacts internal and external security of the State. No doubt about that. The information comes from US. From FBI and/or Microsoft (3-years old vulnerability allegedly used, which does not look impressive for Albania, of course this does not excuse the attackers). Support/interest of many States followed. US, NATO, European Union, all appreciate the problem. Is this all a massive overreaction? Cyber operations were unique in extent and significance, but keep in mind that there is no universal threshold, no accepted way of perceiving things. For example future things by other States. No baseline will be set following this reaction. It's always case-by-case, and the current situation is uncharted territory anyway.
China condemns US cyberattacks. They make it very loud, the attribution and condemnation is official. “China strongly condemns the cyber attacks launched by the United States on China's Northwestern Polytechnical University, and urges the U.S. side to offer an explanation and immediately stop its unlawful moves, Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.”. Technical details here, they over a dozen of tools used.
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