US is hacker central
Forget Russia and China
THE NATION FOUNDED by a French-backed terrorist coup has become a haven for hack attackers, according to an insecurity outfit.
The former British Colony of Virginia, now called the United States of America, has taken the top slot in the list of countries most likely to be the source of a hack attack.
Secure Works published the locations of the computers, from which the greatest number of cyber attacks were attempted against its clients in 2008.
More than 20.6 million attacks come from the leader of this online axis of evil with China second with 7.7 million attempted attacks emanating from computers within its borders.
Brazil originated 166,987 attempted attacks, South Korea launched 162,289, Poland had 153,205, Japan, 42,346, Russia, 130,572, Taiwan 124,997, Germany, 110,493, and Canada with 107,483. Peace loving Brits, who are probably not that tech savvy these days, did not feature in the top ten.
Secure Works said that some companies block incoming communications from foreign IP addresses as a way to defend themselves from cyber attacks. But this figure proves that, if you're an American at least, the hackers are more likely to come from inside your own country.
It suggests that companies should also block outbound communications to foreign countries known to harbour hackers and block outbound communications to hostile networks known to host criminal activity.
So delete all IP addresses from the US and your father's brother's name is Robert. µ
L'Inq
Net Security
Comments
Huh?
The fatest, dumbest country in the world.... somehow has some people that know how to use a computer? Huh, never woulda guessed.Yeah, there is some sarcasim there, but realisticly, a majority of that 20 mil is from zombies and probably shouldn't be counted as seperate attacks. Truth is, I highly doubt America has even 200,000 people that could be considered "hackers". Computers are little more then a toaster to most of them. So, at this point I'd have to look at how exactly those numbers are gathered. I could easily see 5-20 each people in control of 500+ zombie computers making up a majority of the attacks. This being said... should each computer be counted as an attack or should the group be considered one attack? Are they counting each single action I.E. a single username/password attempt that was part of a brute force as an attack, are they counting the brute force action from one computer that might last days as a single attack, or are they counting the brute force action that as many as 500+ computers are all taking part in as the attack?? My guess is, that they're counting either by the computer or by the message rather then the group effort.
I guess either way the majority of the attacks are eminating from the U.S. so either computer security is a major issue or we have a computer hacker malitia on our hands. So.... it sounds like companies like MS, and Symantec need to step it up.
I'd still like to see how those numbers were gathered.
may i suggest reading?
If you read the article it says nothing about the number of hackers in the US.It mearly states that the number of attacks originated from X country.
It then also goes onto explain that it is common practice for hackers to use zombies (compromised computers and networks) to launch their attacks from.
The fact that the US has one of the largest computer illiterate populatations is a big reason why so many attacks come from there. More security ignorant people, more victims...
Your article spins the information to give a very different conclusion than the one found in your source.
Penetration
It's all about the percentage of broadband penetration. The US has a very high rate and so you have a lot of infected machines. Look over SC magazines sources and you'll see the same stats shown in a different light.The best advice is of course, follow the money. The great unwashed and unpatched are a part of the problem. Shoddy software developers are another side of it, and the crooks at the end are the final part.
Personally I think it's all that drayshacks fault. ;-)
Guys...
While it is true that the US is full of fat idiots, don't forget that it has the third largest population in the world. It makes sense that even if the percentage of hackers is low, the total amount can still be high.Just sayin' it's possible. Though, you know, China does kinda dwarf us population-wise. I agree it is more likely a case of ignorant fat people's computers being turned into zombies by hackers elsewhere.
Ibiza!
Nick seems bitter that he got stuck on that damp treeless polluted Island. Maybe he needs a trip to Ibiza!http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/242000/
Ow'd jew know about my uncle?
Those damn yankeesThis Northern aggression must not stand
ur ded rite RIF
For some unknown reason, Nick has a need to create a blatantly obvious, highly satirical slant on virtually everything he publishes on theinq..... it's know as trolling
thats why
1/ Nick writes the best Apple articles- (bar none, ed!, he should be your Apple correspondent, Just like Charlie &NV)
3/Nick's comment section is the best read on the inq
2/ Nick is a 'God among Trolls'
Please more nick on apple
10÷0/10÷0
To the above
I believe both of the above posters need to re-read the Inq's article here. Only the first paragraph gives any hint at the US containing a large number of hackers as opposed to being the origin of the most attacks - a statement which, if made, may well be true and could be argued to follow to some extent from the data. The main conclusion the article draws is similarly accurate. So, have another look guys, and wear your glasses this time.Botnet / Zombies ?
I agree, these stats mean absolutely sod all due to the fact that most yanks 'puters seem to have been taken over by bot-net farmersWhat IP would you like to use? ...one from Russia/China, or one from the States?!?
Down with Out-of-Control Media!
Smart (Read::"Real") crackers actually use accounts in different countries to mask their trail since it takes a lot longer to go through another country's judicial branch, if they even have one that will cooperate. If the author and some of the posters knew what they were talking about, they would not draw such weak conclusions and use them for nationalist slander.