Is the cyber-dream diminishing?

[Fab Foodie]

Well that's a big question I have been pondering of late (no point pondering small things)....

I've been triggered by the recent cyber attacks on our Supermarkets and food infra-structure. Of course cyber-attacks are nothing new, in defense, ransoms, bad state actors etc. Cyber security is a constant arms race between hackers and security companies.
Everything new these days is 'connected' therefore everything is pretty-much open to hacking. What if modern cars were hacked so tey all stopped at the same time? Well, my 14 year old unconnected C1 would rise in value!

So what about returning to some of the old ways of doing things that are less hackable?
I was listening to the travails of trying to book a driving test - places are scarce and bots are buying-up spaces on the online booking system as they become available and re-selling them - like ticket touting. Government man said it was going to take years and millions to put a system in place to stop this - really? Why not take a step back and look at the old ways of doing things? Surely we could get people to book at their local driving test center where only staff have access to the bookings? Couldn't that be simpler? Stop the tout-bots by having to physically be present to book your test at the center with your provisional-licence in hand, just like the old days. OK, some system changes may be required and some more people might be employed to administer bookings - jobs are no bad thing. But it might be cost effective in the longer term.

Whenever there's some kind of major cyber-infrastructure fail there are usually (in any decent system) some kind of emergency work-around...why not just make that the norm and remove the opportunity for hacking (cost of course), but cyber attacks are not cost free either.

OK, maybe a bit naive - but many of us know how stuff got done before big tech stole our lives and maybe some of those ways are worth revisiting in an ever unreliable and unstable world.
Fcuk the algorithm!

Discuss!

 

[Ian H]

Of course you'd be stymied by the traffic lights not working, the fuel stations shut, and the road clogged with immovable vehicles.

 

[Psamathe]

Some cyber hacks happen and are avoidable were in not for profit seeking/cost cutting. eg One of my cards and personal details (with many thousands of others) got taken by hackers when a very reputable online vendor was hacked. I got the e-mail from the vendor notifying me with the "we've now put in place additional security measures to prevent such attacks in future" ... which begs the question as to why those additional security measures were not put in place before the hack rather than after. If additional security measures were available then they should have been there preventing the hacks not in response.

Many (reputable) companies don't do everything they could as that takes staff, costs, money which they'd rather not spend.

Daft aspect is that I didn't lose any money as in effect everybody with a credit card contributed to all the fraudulent transactione being refunded by the card company. In effect we are all paying.

Yes, my card was used, I was pestered for a couple of years with hackers trying to get my new card number/security such that in the end I had to notify the Police and change my phone number. Had to notify Police when one call then read me my address and started telling me what they'd come round and do to my daughter ...

Ian

 

[Fab Foodie]

Of course you'd be stymied by the traffic lights not working, the fuel stations shut, and the road clogged with immovable vehicles.

I usually am....

 

[Psamathe]

Question (as a real question not trying to make a point through question): when I was young "well known" crime was holding up a Post Office (or similar). Internet not yet invented. Has comparable levels of crime migrated from criminals having to wear masks and go into a Post Office now onto the internet. Maybe in part as with card use many shops and Post Offices probably have till balances that wouldn't cover the cost of a ski mask (and bank branches becoming a rarity).

Ian

 

[Ian H]

I usually am....

When the tourists arrive you stay at home or take to the back lanes.

 

[briantrumpet]

When the tourists arrive you stay at home or take to the back lanes.

I did that once in Dunsford, and came up behind two tractors with trailers loaded with hay doing a face-off with a tourist towing a large caravan. I decided that by the time they'd have sorted that out, bellringing practice would have finished (and probably the pub afterwards), so I found some even smaller lanes to get me to the church on time.

 

[Beebo]

Question (as a real question not trying to make a point through question): when I was young "well known" crime was holding up a Post Office (or similar). Internet not yet invented. Has comparable levels of crime migrated from criminals having to wear masks and go into a Post Office now onto the internet. Maybe in part as with card use many shops and Post Offices probably have till balances that wouldn't cover the cost of a ski mask (and bank branches becoming a rarity).

Ian

The difference is that now you can be robbed by anyone, anywhere in the world at any time.

And I suspect rogue states are behind much of the very complex stuff.

So basically the post office is being held up by a Russian funded cyber geek.