The Russian Hackers

[PureX]

I think all major players including America are not innocent in hacking. It will be a huge part of any war to help disable the opposition.

Cyber security needs to be one of any governments priorities.

Yeah, but Trump closed down that agency to use the money for his great wall (that wasn't gong to cost us anything).

 

[Father Heathen]

This is so much more productive....

If that's how you wish to dishonestly mischaracterize it.

 

[Revoltingest]

If that's how you wish to dishonestly mischaracterize it.

I thought your characterization was an invitation
to present the absurdity on the coin's other side.
Honestly, If you present a cartoon to make a point,
you must expect that it could be answered in kind.

 

[Stevicus]

I was listening to Mitt Romney the other day. He's on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and he was in essence saying that -- were we to get into a war with Russia at this moment -- our commanders might find themselves unable to communicate with their troops, our power grids might go down, our computer systems could crash, and many, many other possible consequences of the hacking.

Has anyone been following the story?

I started a thread back when this story first broke and wondered: Are the Russians smarter than we are?

In my experience with Russians and with studying Russia, I don't really think that they have any hostile designs against America. That's not Russia. That's not their way. On the other hand, they're not the kind who will shrink in the face of a provocation, and I think that we Americans bear some responsibility here.

We can't play the "innocent victim" game like this.

I don't think we should trust them, and I think we need to be on guard. They do have a dark side, just as we have a dark side, so we always need to be vigilant and watchful of what they do and say.

But we'd be far better off if we dealt with them on an honest and straight level, not through the duplicitous and hypocritical sanctimony which US politicians are famous for.

Until then, I guess our cyber-warriors will keep playing whack-a-mole in cyberspace.

It makes me wonder if the computer industry could ultimately self-destruct. Are we talking about a possible cyber-equivalent of a nuclear war?

 

[fantome profane]

In my experience with Russians and with studying Russia, I don't really think that they have any hostile designs against America. That's not Russia. That's not their way.

This is not about the Russian people. It is about Vladimir Putin.

 

[Watchmen]

For something to be mere fear-mongering, it must be without substance or nearly so, wouldn't you agree?

Not necessarily. For example, many have reported on the mutated virus in the UK recently. It’s true the virus has mutated, but they report the news in such a way as to cause fear.

 

[Sunstone]

Thank you for sharing your opinion (I just shared my opinion; should be possible in a debate forum, I thought)

IMO:
Morality has everything to do with it. IF all behave moral THEN none will hack. IF all behave immoral THEN things can go down in Russia + USA

Ok. if you want to do a moral analysis on who is right and who is wrong when it comes to the Russian hacking, please go right ahead. But start your own thread on it -- because that's not the topic here. The topic here is what are the consequences to America of the hacking. Do you see the difference?

 

[Stevicus]

This is not about the Russian people. It is about Vladimir Putin.

I suppose, although I'm just going by what I've studied regarding their history, culture, and ways of looking at the world. I'm not saying they're all good people. Some are good, some are bad. Putin may be one of the bad ones, but I don't see him as some kind of madman.

Personally, I see this more as an embarrassment for the U.S. and our own security agencies than anything else. If Putin is sending us a message, then he's as much as telling us and the rest of the world that the U.S. is vulnerable and weak - some kind of sick and wounded giant.

Many people support imposing economic sanctions on Russia, but that may not have the effect we would like it to have. It could actually lead to more fervent support for Putin but also put Russia in a more desperate situation. I think we need to play this a bit more carefully.

Other than that, saber-rattling, whether it's done through public rhetoric or via cyberspace, is a dangerous course to take. We could try reaching out to them, just as Nixon did with Brezhnev. We had detente for a while, at least until Brezhnev invaded Afghanistan.

It seems for the time being, we're going to have to deal with Putin, one way or the other. I don't relish the prospect of a resurgence of the Cold War, as it wouldn't just be Russia, but China is also getting more worrisome these days.

I just don't think we should make any rash decisions about this.

 

[stvdv]

Do you see the difference?

I understand. You missed my point. But I will drop it.

 

[Father Heathen]

I thought your characterization was an invitation
to present the absurdity on the coin's other side.
Honestly, If you present a cartoon to make a point,
you must expect that it could be answered in kind.

Fair point. Touché.

 

[stvdv]

I was listening to Mitt Romney the other day. He's on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and he was in essence saying that -- were we to get into a war with Russia at this moment -- our commanders might find themselves unable to communicate with their troops, our power grids might go down, our computer systems could crash, and many, many other possible consequences of the hacking.

Has anyone been following the story?

YES