British government publicly blames North Korea for WannaCry malware

[Greg S]

Determining the origin of malware is a difficult task, but British security minister Ben Wallace has pointed fingers directly at North Korea for the widespread ransomware attacks. Even though Wallace believes that the rogue state is responsible for infecting thousands of computers and IoT devices, it is unlikely for anyone to be held accountable.

As a result of the nature of cyber attacks, Wallace is suggesting that western countries create a "doctrine of deterrent" so that future attacks can be prevented. The effects of cyberwarfare can quickly reach the physical world and cause devastating effects not unlike the use of nuclear weapons. Denying access to utilities, agricultural equipment, and basic infrastructure could incite violence in a fight for survival.

In the case of WannaCry, hospital patients were placed at great risk due to the failure of healthcare providers' IT systems. Approximately 19,500 patient appointments were cancelled, of which 139 were believed to be cancer related. Redirecting incoming patients to other hospitals also placed lives at greater risk.

Final counts suggest that 81 health organizations were affected by WannaCry and that the vast majority were infected as a result of running Windows 7 instead of an operating system with proper patches in place. In total, over 300,000 devices have been infected spanning nearly 150 countries world wide.

Even though British intelligence strongly believes that North Korea is responsible, there is always a possibility of other groups having involvement. WannaCry has also been linked to China by other security researchers. No matter who the responsible party is, cyber security teams have their work cut out for them to prevent similar attacks from occurring in the future.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/71622-british-government-publicly-blames-north-korea-wannacry-malware.html

 

[senketsu]

Well North Korea was going to crowdfund their nuclear program until they realized their country has no internet.
If it is North Korea, pretty good ransomware skills for a country that likely doesn't even own 100 computers that anyone other than the Glorious Leader can use. Does Kim Jong-un have to erase his browsing history?

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Well North Korea was going to crowdfund their nuclear program until they realized their country has no internet.
If it is North Korea, pretty good ransomware skills for a country that likely doesn't even own 100 computers that anyone other than the Glorious Leader can use. Does Kim Jong-un have to erase his browsing history?

You've probably stated what North Korea wants the rest of the world to believe. When you eventually find out that all the propaganda you firmly believe to be gospel, actually turns out to be the complete opposite, don't be surprised. Numerous battles have been won on misinformation alone.

 

[senketsu]

I don't know what North Korea wants me to believe, but I do believe two things about them.
The first is that Kim Jong-un wants to retain power even if it causes WW III and
he has amassed a fairly formidable armed forces.
Yes, they lack a lot of things for a conventional modern army, but he has the ability to launch a pretty death dealing offence and defense to his neighbours. Seoul can be hit by artillery, the number of troops on the ready near the DMZ and Japan is very, very close and we know what the Japanese stance is on offensive military operations since WW II. (can't do it, which kinds of limits their options) Plus China has always wanted a buffer state against the West in Korea so they are not likely to help much.

 

[TomSEA]

"Plus China has always wanted a buffer state against the West in Korea so they are not likely to help much."

Which seems odd to me. That was definitely their old-school way of thinking, but China is all about making money these days. You'd think they'd want a unified Korea in order to maximize their earning potential from them. As of now, they're GIVING money to North Korea instead of reaping the benefits of a solid national economy they can sell to.

 

[Vulcanproject]

"Plus China has always wanted a buffer state against the West in Korea so they are not likely to help much."

Which seems odd to me. That was definitely their old-school way of thinking, but China is all about making money these days. You'd think they'd want a unified Korea in order to maximize their earning potential from them. As of now, they're GIVING money to North Korea instead of reaping the benefits of a solid national economy they can sell to.

The Chinese are no less skeptical of the west than the Russians. It is still an 'us and them' mentality, that doesn't go away after a few decades of greater openness and trade in China.

Russia is testament to that fact, the Soviet Union fell and everyone thought it was going to all be rainbows and bessie mates with what remained. 26 years later and there is just as much distrust and posturing going on as there was at any point in the Cold War.

There are two options for China: Do nothing, or take over North Korea. Considering the second is incredibly messy it's only kept as an emergency backup plan and the first option will be doctrine for many more years.

 

[Hasbean]

And my Aunty stubbed her toe a few weeks back and that was because of them too. And next month we've got a small incident with the garden hose springing a leak, and that'll be the fault of the North Korean's too. They're a bad bunch.

Verifiable evidence? Who needs evidence when if I shout it loud enough and long enough, it'll become the truth.

 

[senketsu]

"The first is that Kim Jong-un wants to retain power even if it causes WW III"
I say this but although it makes Kim look bad, if so many governments didn't play the "Regime Change Game" I don't think North Korea would have built up the kind of military they have nor been so isolating. Force and threats of force are already driving him into a corner so the only option I see is to accept his government, turn down the military hardline and push for an end to the war and the posturing on the DMZ. It may not be a unified Korea, but then at least we all know we will live to see tomorrow.
For those that don't know, they are still at war, an armistice was signed in 1953, but its intent was to "insure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved." Here we are in 2017 and we see how well that has worked out.

 

[GeforcerFX]

Yes, they lack a lot of things for a conventional modern army, but he has the ability to launch a pretty death dealing offence and defense to his neighbours. Seoul can be hit by artillery, the number of troops on the ready near the DMZ and Japan is very, very close and we know what the Japanese stance is on offensive military operations since WW II. (can't do it, which kinds of limits their options) Plus China has always wanted a buffer state against the West in Korea so they are not likely to help much.

If Nork launched first there ability to strike and hurt the area within 80-100nmi of the border is pretty good, Seoul included. The US and the South know this, more than less likely the USA is positioning for a first strike. We have B-1's based at Anderson and have no plans of moving them, Kedana is getting 12 F-35A's in early Nov and the Marines will continue to base a squadron of F-35B's in Okinawa for the foreseeable future. We can rapid raptor F-22 squads out of Hawaii and Alaska in less then 24 hours and get them to Japan. The Navy has 3 carrier strike groups meeting up in the pacific in November, 2 are already within a radius of 400nmi from North Korea. If the US strikes first the level of damage the US can land on over 80% of the Nork military in less than 30 min is pretty insane. Several hundred tomahawk strikes(you got 60+ sitting on each Burke, and 158 on the 4 Ohio SSGN subs), with prob 4-6 B-2's flying special strikes, growlers and F-35's and F-16CJ's conducting SEAD and B-52's launching AGM-86's (conventional) and B-1's lobbing JASSM-ER's across the border would flatten most of the artillery and storage facilities on the border, B-2's go after naval bases, air bases and the Nuke facilities, F-22's and F-15 along with Hornets cover the skys. It's still gonna be bloody for the South, but no where near as bad as if the North fired first. China has said if USA launched first they would respond, they have not shown much military movement in the last few weeks, and are not in a position currently to deal with the amount of Military power moving towards Korea. At the same time they seem to be relatively done with North Korea, the previous leaders realized they needed to appease China a bit, Jr.s doesn't seem to think that. If the US guaranteed something like 70% of US military in Korea would be gone after 2 years from the conflict it would prob put the Chinese at a greater ease with the whole issue. The USA, China, and Russia would have to work together to help with the humanitarian issues that would arise from this, but that could be a good thing for all.