The Internet and China
Last Sunday November 08, 2009 I watched 60 Minutes. The main story was titled “Sabotaging The System”. A very interesting story yet nothing really new about what can and is happening via the Internet.
I have been working with computer software and have formal computer hardware and software education. I have been developing computer programs and systems for about 35 years. Really enjoy it and hope to continue doing so during the next few decades. Because of this I am able to appreciate what can and cannot be done and how simple or complex is to get done some of the things covered in the 60 Minutes broadcast.
Something that called my attention was a comment regarding China and the USA. Chinese nationals are undoubting hacking into our systems. But so are nationals from Russia and other Eastern European countries among others. The USA is doing the same to others (including China) so why is it so bad for others to do it to us? The answer from an expert was something like “We [the USA] have so much more at stake”. Not sure what this meant but it sure gave me the impression that the USA does not have the brainpower to stop such intrusions. As a matter of fact we do not have enough power to win a war. The USA can bomb a country for a few days, perhaps invade it and then … we can only withdraw. The times when we had power to impose our ideas and ways has long gone by. Today the USA has very few friends (i.e., Australia, UK). Most countries (i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China, etc) do not care about the USA or are just openly our enemies (i.e., Iran, Iraq, most Middle East countries, Venezuela, etc).
Using the Internet to break into secure sites is not that simple and in general not possible. Typical breaches are due to some other factors that have nothing to do directly with the Internet. For example, someone found / stole a laptop with access codes to bank accounts. These are the most common ones. Others are due to technical glitches found in the software used by institutions on their machines. These are the typical vulnerabilities of all operating systems. We are all aware of the Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh updates. From time to time hackers find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and then take advantage of them to gain access to computer systems. Hackers belong to clubs that dedicate hours each day to see who can break into the most coveted computer systems in the world (e.g., financial, defense, law enforcement). For them it is a thrill.
There is nothing new with hackers. They have been breaking into computers before the Internet was around. The Internet has just provided another avenue.
For this Naive American the big issue is China. As we all know China produces most of the good sold in the USA. Few American companies offer products that are designed and manufactured in the USA. Because of this, China could be adding at manufacturing time circuits and software into computers and computerized devices that could deliver confidential information once they are in the hands of end users.
If you think this is farfetched, the 60 Minutes segment touched on some cases in which mysterious circuits have appeared in chips manufactured in the USA for defense purposes. In my opinion, such cases are typically associated with insiders that have allowed access to specific systems. Once access is granted, anything is possible. By building the means at design time all bets are off.
We need to think how many systems in defense, financing and utilities have already been compromised and no one knows. The circuits and software could be dormant for years until it is enabled by some event or signal. When that happens there will be nothing to do, just pay the price.
Why is it that China has so much power? The reason is American Royalty and our politicians. In the past few decades Democrats and Republican politicians have been allowing the American Royalty (wealthy upper management in American companies) to move manufacturing and development to China so they can make a few more Dollars a year in dividends for their stock holders so in return they can justify receiving dozens of Millions of Dollars a year in compensation. What about the Naive American employees that have and will loose their jobs? Some of such companies have been doing poorly as we know (e.g., AIG, GM, etc) but they finance politicians via lobbyist, which makes it all completely legal and foolproof.
In conclusion China has been manufacturing most and is starting to design and develop some products sold by American companies. China has trillions of Dollars in their coffers. China and most countries in the world were affected by the recession caused by American Royalty about a year ago, but in contrast to the US that is still in a recession with 10% unemployment, most countries have experience a shorter recession and are already out of it.
Mr. Obama was telling today our veterans that WE (the USA) have not forgotten them. Things will get better (by magic) for them and for the rest of Americans. HOW is this going to happen when China has the money, power and smarts to run the world? I believe Mr. Obama was preaching CHANGE during his election campaign. What are you going to CHANGE Mr. President?
A week or so ago, Chrysler announced that they had done 30% less in sales during the month of October 2009 than a year ago. In an attempt to improve sales Chrysler is NOT going to improve their awful products. They are going to start selling FIAT cars. Yes, cars designed and manufactured by Italians. Imagine how many sustainable new jobs is this decision going to provide for Naive Americans. A week or so ago, KIA introduced a new model for 2010, the Forte Koup. I invite my readers to take a look at that model. Why can Chrysler come up with something like this Korean manufacturer? Chrysler and the USA are in need of a fundamental CHANGE.
