Cyber Attacks coming?

Don M.

Don M.

SF VIP
Location
central Missouri
It appears that the Ukrainian people are giving Putin some serious challenges...and Not just rolling over and giving up. Then, as Western nations, including the U.S., are giving support to the Ukraine, and increasing the Russian sanctions, this will further anger the Russian Lunatic.

I strongly suspect that we will start to see a wave of Russian cyberattacks on the Western nations in the very near future. Our infrastructure...utilities, banks, businesses, and even hospitals could all become "targets", if Putin doesn't prevail in Ukraine.

Now, would be a good time to exercise some extra caution with any/all Online activity we engage in.....shopping, banking, etc. Make sure your computer security is updated....Don't open ANY suspicious e-mails....make sure you have strong Passwords, etc., etc. I doubt that individuals will be targeted much more than already occurs, but "better safe than sorry".

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/24/tech/russia-ukraine-us-sanctions-cyberattacks/index.html
 

Good points Don!
My Live Net TV (news) went out about 5 days ago. I found an alternative temporary app but it may go out too.
I'm ready for the computer to go out and all TV. Anything could happen. Phones could go out. Gas heat? electrical?
It's of little concern when compared to what Ukraine is experiencing.
We may get to test our mettle!
 

Don M. said:
It appears that the Ukrainian people are giving Putin some serious challenges...and Not just rolling over and giving up. Then, as Western nations, including the U.S., are giving support to the Ukraine, and increasing the Russian sanctions, this will further anger the Russian Lunatic.

I strongly suspect that we will start to see a wave of Russian cyberattacks on the Western nations in the very near future. Our infrastructure...utilities, banks, businesses, and even hospitals could all become "targets", if Putin doesn't prevail in Ukraine.

Now, would be a good time to exercise some extra caution with any/all Online activity we engage in.....shopping, banking, etc. Make sure your computer security is updated....Don't open ANY suspicious e-mails....make sure you have strong Passwords, etc., etc. I doubt that individuals will be targeted much more than already occurs, but "better safe than sorry".

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/24/tech/russia-ukraine-us-sanctions-cyberattacks/index.html
Click to expand...
On various SF threads we've talked about books describing dystopian scenarios if our power grids were knocked out, whether via a directed terrorist EMP (eletromagnetic pulse) as in the One Second After series by Willam R. Forstchen, or massive solar flares as in Lucifer's Hammer by Jerry Pournelle.

If cyber attacks caused our electric grids to go down and our communications to be interrupted, we would see very swift breakdowns of societal norms, law, order and civility. Yet another reason to always maintain a well stocked pantry, plenty of stored potable water, a personal stash of fuel for cooking and/or heating, fully fueled automobiles, and so forth.

If any one of a number of types of widespread sh## hits the fan, people will be on their own for a while. My area experienced that with the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Other areas of the country/world have suffered the tragedy of ignoring (or being unable to obey) evacuation orders or being insufficiently prepared after widespread ice storms, flooding, fires, hurricanes, power outages, earthquakes, etc.
 
Last edited:
Don M. said:
It appears that the Ukrainian people are giving Putin some serious challenges...and Not just rolling over and giving up. Then, as Western nations, including the U.S., are giving support to the Ukraine, and increasing the Russian sanctions, this will further anger the Russian Lunatic.

I strongly suspect that we will start to see a wave of Russian cyberattacks on the Western nations in the very near future. Our infrastructure...utilities, banks, businesses, and even hospitals could all become "targets", if Putin doesn't prevail in Ukraine.

Now, would be a good time to exercise some extra caution with any/all Online activity we engage in.....shopping, banking, etc. Make sure your computer security is updated....Don't open ANY suspicious e-mails....make sure you have strong Passwords, etc., etc. I doubt that individuals will be targeted much more than already occurs, but "better safe than sorry".

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/24/tech/russia-ukraine-us-sanctions-cyberattacks/index.html
Click to expand...
You are absolutely right. I have thought this for awhile now.
 
Cyber-attacks aside, it's not a bad idea to have a roll of good old fashion physical hard cash stashed away that you can access should stuff suddenly get real. Same general principle as having a go bag prepared in case one needs to get out of Dodge, fast.

Then hope and pray you never need to use any of that sort of stuff.
 
Good for the Ukranian civilians for being fearless in protecting their country! Well it's been reported already that officials here are warning U.S. businesses and agencies to prepare for cyber attacks on our infrastructure. They know they could cripple us if they hit just the right targets, so it's something to be apprehensive about and yes prepare. We as individuals can be as cautious as we want, but once they hit the main targets I suspect they will...our utilities, financial institutions, hospitals, as you mentioned....we'll be in big trouble anyway.

@HarryHawk I agree. I keep an emergency bag packed and change the clothes to match the seasons. I also have a cash stash but I'm thinking I might need to add more in case things became very drawn out.
 
HarryHawk said:
Cyber-attacks aside, it's not a bad idea to have a roll of good old fashion physical hard cash stashed away that you can access should stuff suddenly get real. Same general principle as having a go bag prepared in case one needs to get out of Dodge, fast.

Then hope and pray you never need to use any of that sort of stuff.
Click to expand...
So true. Cash is king when the power is out. A lot of people cruise live cash-free, but in an emergency cash is a lifeline.

Must admit to not having a "go bag" although I do have spare backpacks in my house so DH and I could assemble them.
May I ask what you have in yours?
 
Lots of fear mongering here! Sort of reminds me of 1999 when the new millennials was coming. The "news" was out that all computer systems would fail, ships would stop running, planes would fall out of the sky, power plants would stop producing power and fires would start all over the place. Schools and businesses spent millions trying to reprogram their computers. This went on for months. Then New Year's Eve, 1999 came and the next morning the world was the same. Nothing happened but the media sure had a "field's day."

When the Covid19 Pandemic started in the spring of 2020, many people were hoarding toilet paper and food.

Now, with Putin's War, the only thing I'm worried about is nuclear War. No amount of toilet paper will help us then. I'm not hoarding anything but I'm glad not to live in Ukraine.
 
Round the block queues in Ukraine today for banks and cash points..


54746683-10559201-image-a-5_1646036263553.jpg


54756847-10559201-image-a-30_1646056317989.jpg

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with senior economic officers today, at one end of his 10-metre long table, where he referred to the West as an 'empire of lies'


A smirking Vladimir Putin today ranted about the West's 'empire of lies' and banned Russians from sending their money abroad as worldwide sanctions caused the rouble to tumble and sparked a nationwide rush to withdraw cash

The currency sank 30% in early trading before easing back to stand 20% down. Its collapsing value risks wiping out the savings of ordinary Russians, who have been seen flocking to ATMs all over the country to empty their accounts, including in Putin's home city of St Petersburg.

But as the Russian economy tanked, the Russian President took another swipe at Western sanctions today during an emergency meeting with economic officials at the Kremlin.

'I've invited you here to talk about issues to do with the economy,' he told officials with a smirk, adding: 'I mean of course the sanctions which the so-called Western community - the empire of lies - is trying to implement against our country.'

​



This afternoon Putin announced a diktat to ban the depositing of cash in any foreign accounts from tomorrow, to stop cash, especially held by rich Russians, moving out of the country and further destablising the economy.

A fresh barrage of sanctions today saw the US cut off the Russian central bank, effectively preventing Americans from doing business with it and severely limiting Russia's ability to defend its currency.
 
Packerjohn said:
Lots of fear mongering here! Sort of reminds me of 1999 when the new millennials was coming. The "news" was out that all computer systems would fail, ships would stop running, planes would fall out of the sky, power plants would stop producing power and fires would start all over the place. Schools and businesses spent millions trying to reprogram their computers. This went on for months. Then New Year's Eve, 1999 came and the next morning the world was the same. Nothing happened but the media sure had a "field's day."

When the Covid19 Pandemic started in the spring of 2020, many people were hoarding toilet paper and food.

Now, with Putin's War, the only thing I'm worried about is nuclear War. No amount of toilet paper will help us then. I'm not hoarding anything but I'm glad not to live in Ukraine.
Click to expand...
It's more like hoping for the best but making a reasonable plan in case something worse. There's a difference between a basement filled with cases of MREs or food hoarding and having some extras of non-perishable food we normally eat, plus extra drinking water (that we bottle ourselves in used 2 liter soda bottles), batteries, meds, cash, and so forth.

It does no harm and may do some good. Same with keeping our RV and BBQ propane tanks full. Same with our vehicle fuel tanks. And yes, I also make sure we've got backup TP. ;)

None of the above goes to waste - we eventually cycle through everything including the water, which we dump it on the plants or in the pool each summer, then refill.
 
If the worldwide situation got to the point where chaos and anarchy were the norm and not the exception, where would you advise keeping one's cash? And when you were to make a purchase with it, what's to prevent the seller or other "customers" from pointing a gun in your face and taking your cash, along with whatever else you might have on yourself at the time? A reasonable concern seems prudent but sometimes I think that people get overly concerned with things that never happen. But if it makes you sleep better at night, then by all means, fill your mattress with cash but check your smoke alarm batteries too. It'd be a shame if that mattress burned up in a house fire.
 
HarryHawk said:
Cyber-attacks aside, it's not a bad idea to have a roll of good old fashion physical hard cash stashed away that you can access should stuff suddenly get real. Same general principle as having a go bag prepared in case one needs to get out of Dodge, fast.

Then hope and pray you never need to use any of that sort of stuff.
Click to expand...


seconding this...
 
Chris P Bacon said:
If the worldwide situation got to the point where chaos and anarchy were the norm and not the exception, where would you advise keeping one's cash? And when you were to make a purchase with it, what's to prevent the seller or other "customers" from pointing a gun in your face and taking your cash, along with whatever else you might have on yourself at the time? A reasonable concern seems prudent but sometimes I think that people get overly concerned with things that never happen. But if it makes you sleep better at night, then by all means, fill your mattress with cash but check your smoke alarm batteries too. It'd be a shame if that mattress burned up in a house fire.
Click to expand...
Wow, @Chris P Bacon, did you honestly glean from any posts on this thread that we were filling our mattresses with cash - or recommending it as a course of action?

Many people live completely cashless these days. In a widespread or long-term power outage, CCs and ATM cards are worthless. Having cash on hand has long been recommended by emergency preparedness sites, the US government's included.

After the 1994 earthquake those of us with deep pantries shared flashlights, batteries, water and food with neighbors. Some folks literally didn't have enough diapers for their babies to get through the day. Others had not a single drop of drinking water on hand aside from ice cubes in their freezers. Their unsecured water heaters fell over and emptied onto their garage floors during the initial shake... so much for the 40 gallons of potable water they'd been counting on.

After a day or two, the local government set up emergency water stations and people lined up with containers during the week (or longer) it took the Department of Water and Power to restore services. The few stores that opened up accepted cash only - and let me tell you, they raised their prices immediately.

That quake was a localized emergency so the situation didn't become dire. Had it been widespread a lot of people would have been in a world of hurt. (Since you also live in a seismically active country I'd think you also understand the importance of maintaining backup food, water and emergency supplies.)

Only in hindsight can anyone know whether preparations have been adequate, inadequate or excessive. That's why government and mainstream preparedness groups recommended people store only supplies we use on a regular basis and rotate our stock rather than investing in cases of MREs.
 
Yeah, I think that a few here have several thousand tucked away in $100 dollar bills in their homes. Won’t those be handy when those few places that have things for sale have no change?
It’s probably better to prepare than it is to panic but I’ve gotten this far by the seat of my pants.
A little common sense would probably get most people through most hardships. It’s too bad that we can’t stockpile that anyplace though. Do what you will. You were going to anyways.
 
HarryHawk said:
Cyber-attacks aside, it's not a bad idea to have a roll of good old fashion physical hard cash stashed away that you can access should stuff suddenly get real. Same general principle as having a go bag prepared in case one needs to get out of Dodge, fast.

Then hope and pray you never need to use any of that sort of stuff.
Click to expand...

I keep enough on hand (small denominations) that should the power go out, I'd still be able to buy things early on. Should the grid go down nationwide...and it will at some point due to an attack or natural causes... key transformers will have to be replaced and that'll likely take a year to several years. When that happens, cash will quickly become another piece of paper. I can't imagine cash tastes good and it has no nutritive value.
 
Today's cyber attack news:

NATO ...amid all the coulds and shoulds... basically said today cyber attacks on a member nation may be treated as armed attacks so they're taking the threat seriously and letting Putin know they are.

A cyberattack on a NATO member state could trigger Article 5, its collective defence clause, a NATO official said on Monday, amid concerns that chaos in cyberspace around Russia's invasion of Ukraine could spill over into other territories.​
​
The military alliance has for years made clear that a serious cyberattack could trigger the clause, but such a scenario has so far been largely hypothetical.​
​
"Allies also recognise that the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might, in certain circumstances, be considered as an armed attack," the official told Reuters.​
​
"We will not speculate on how serious a cyberattack would have to be in order to trigger a collective response. Any response could include diplomatic and economic sanctions, cyber measures, or even conventional forces, depending on the nature of the attack," the official said.​
​
Whether or not a cyberattack met the threshold of an attack large enough to trigger Article 5 was a "political decision for NATO Allies to make," they added.​
​
Britain and the United States have warned of potential cyberattacks on Ukraine which could have international consequences should, for example, malicious software designed to target networks in Ukraine start to spread elsewhere.​

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...collective-defence-clause-official/ar-AAUqy5N


.
 
Last edited:
StarSong said:
So true. Cash is king when the power is out. A lot of people cruise live cash-free, but in an emergency cash is a lifeline.

Must admit to not having a "go bag" although I do have spare backpacks in my house so DH and I could assemble them.
May I ask what you have in yours?
Click to expand...
Everybody's needs may be somewhat different when it comes to what you may need if you are dashing out the front door. It depends where you are at and where you could end up. Do you need sunscreen or warm mittens? Might you have to survive outside? Are you usually wearing comfortable shoes? Maybe food or water purification.

Common stuff includes:
-If you take medicine, have the doses that you take, rotate in and out to keep fresh.
-Copies of any important pieces of i.d. (maybe both paper and electronic)
-First aid kit
-flashlight and batteries
-Transistor radio (crank type)
- on alot of people's lists -- duct tape, paracord, swiss arm knife, lighter/matches, plastic tarp

As you think about it, you come up with other things. Of course you never know if you made the right choices unless you need to use it. Fingers crossed you never find out.
 
StarSong said:
It's more like hoping for the best but making a reasonable plan in case something worse. There's a difference between a basement filled with cases of MREs or food hoarding and having some extras of non-perishable food we normally eat, plus extra drinking water (that we bottle ourselves in used 2 liter soda bottles), batteries, meds, cash, and so forth.

It does no harm and may do some good. Same with keeping our RV and BBQ propane tanks full. Same with our vehicle fuel tanks. And yes, I also make sure we've got backup TP. ;)

None of the above goes to waste - we eventually cycle through everything including the water, which we dump it on the plants or in the pool each summer, then refill.
Click to expand...
So true. We used to live in South Florida and were sometimes hit by hurricanes. We always knew if one hit we would be without power for days so we filled up our cars, withdrew cash and stocked up on non-perishable food. Never hurts to be prepred.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top