Goodbye

I have come to the end of the Unit (Net34) and now my blog is completed.

Goodbye.

Writing task 6.1: Representing the Self

*Used with permission from Microsoft

Create or select an image that you would like to use to represent yourself as part of your online presence

I selected a white silhouette of a German Sheppard Dog against a black background because I am a dog lover, although I actually own one of the hound breeds.  The German Sheppard represents intelligence, loyalty and ability to undertake multiple and diverse tasks including tracking (research) and security.  These are attributes that I feel defines me as a person.  Finally, a white dog rather than my first choice of a black dog head hopefully indicates that I am a good guy (gal).

Licencing concerns

I really liked the black silhouette of the German Sheppard Dog head in the triangle from the Optusnet Security Suite page http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_woRHS&FP=/personal/customerhelp/securitysuite&site=personal. 

However, according to the Copyright Notice page all material on the Optus.com.au website is protected under the Copyright Act 1968 (http://www.optus.com.au/portal/site/aboutoptus/menuitem.cfa0247099a6f722d0b61a108c8ac7a0/?vgnextoid=5ee44f923c454010VgnVCM10000029a67c0aRCRD). 

Further, it is clearly stated that “You must not republish any material contained in the website either on another web site or in any other medium, print, electronic or otherwise, or as part of any commercial service (cite)”.  So I went to Microsoft Office online and found my desired image via the Clip Art downloads (http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/clipart/default.aspx). 

 While downloads from Microsoft Clip Art are free, copyright restrictions still apply.  An extensive explanation of the copyright applicable to Clip Art downloads is provided via the “Use of Microsoft Copyrighted Content” webpage ( http://www.microsoft.com/About/Legal/EN/US/IntellectualProperty/Permissions/Default.aspx#ELC) .  According to Copyright page “for permission to be granted for any uses allowed by these guidelines, you must comply with the following four requirements:

 1. If your use includes references to a Microsoft product, you must use the full name of the product. When referencing any Microsoft trademarks, follow the General Microsoft Trademark Guidelines.

 2. You must include the following statement: “Used with permission from Microsoft.”

3. Your use may not be obscene or pornographic, and you may not be disparaging, defamatory, or libelous to Microsoft, any of its products, or any other person or entity.

 4. You may link to Microsoft content by using either a plain text link with words such as “This way to Microsoft.com” or by participating in an applicable Link Logo program. No other images may be used as a link to a Microsoft site.” (http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/OnlineDisclaimer/Default.aspx).

Writing task 5.2: Remediating for 140 Characters

I joined Twitter in 2009 (Sorscha1) to get an understanding of micro blogging. However, up until now I have not sent or resent any tweets (short messages of a maximum of 140 characters).  I dislike interacting on social networking sites with the exception of Facebook.   

Searching on Twitter is rather frustrating.  Searches are primarily based on twitter id or #tags (note to newbies you must type # in front of the tag word).  While there were plenty of tweets about espionage, intelligence agencies, spies (especially fictional spies) there wasn’t a lot of tweets and even less ongoing discussions about cyber-espionage. 

Nevertheless, I was able to find a number of tweets concerning cyber-espionage and the threat it poses to national security.  Unfortunately, most of these tweets were re-tweets that is messages that had been forwarded on multiple times without generating discussion. 

For my original tweets I selected recent media items as this seems to be popular with Twitterers (people who tweet) who have an interest in cyber-espionage. For the re-tweets I again selected tweets that contained links to recent media items. 

I am still not a fan of Twitter.  I am concerned about the impact the character number restriction has on both the tone of the message and the interperation of the information by the reader or follower.  However, in fairness to the Twitter people it would appear that they have found a way to make money from online writing according to a report in the New York Times based on information hacked from the computers of Twitter employees.

Original tweets

Writing task 5.1: Consolidating your presence.

Amendments to blog

The task for module 5.1 was to review and update the blog where necessary.  I actually liked the original colour and format as the gray colouring is symbolic of the gray areas of intelligence work and especially espionage. So I left the colour scheme as it was.

I updated the links to include the podcasts I downloaded and listened to on 3 and 4 February, 2010.  I unfortunately lost a lot of my original links when my old computer died!

Original format

 

Writing task 4.2 Entering the conversation

Online post/ article : Huawei denies ‘ludicrous’ espionage claims by Renai LeMay.

I experienced difficulty when searching for a suitable online discussion or blog related to cyber espionage by foreign governments.  Also I am uncomfortable about posting personal views in publicly accessible places.  So for this task my response to the article would have been:

My response:

Hi Guys

We live a globalised and increasingly borderless world in which China has almost a monopoly on the manufacture of ICT systems and devices.    My wireless internet service provider is Optus, who supply customers with Huawei USB modems.  I have found the Huawei device to be reliable.  However, I am concerned about the Chinese Government using information collected or transmitted by devices manufactured by Huawei. 

China is an authoritarianism regime, and has the ability to coopt so-called independent businesses to conduct clandestine activities on its behalf.  So I suppose the best approach for the Australian Government and businesses is to counter acts of cyber espionage by Chinese agents by strengthening the security of our ICT networks and for ASIO to be alert to and act on the threats posed to Australia by Chinese owned companies.

Take care and be cyber spy aware!

 Reference:

LeMay, R. (2008). Huawei denies ludicrous espionage claims. ZDNet.com.au. Retrieved January  25, 2010 from http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Huawei-denies-ludicrous-espionage-claims/0,130061791,339293911,00.htm

Writing task 4.1: Creating Generative Value

News item: Agency fights cyber spies by Ben Packham – Herald Sun, 16 January, 2010.

In the article Agency fights cyber spies Herald Sun journalist Ben Packham advises that Australia’s critical Defence ICT networks including those of the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) have been experiencing a high number of attacks launched from cyberspace.  Accordingly, the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) has been called in to investigate and take action to prevent and repeal future cyber attacks.  Essentially, this article is to announce the opening of the Cyber Security Operations Centre and is a good news piece for the Rudd Administration’s and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to combat the threat to Australia’s national security from cyber warfare and cyber espionage.

Cyber warfare and cyber espionage attacks on the information and communications technology (ICT) networks of governments, business and individuals, has been the flavour of the month in the mainstream mass-media and the ICT industry media.  With so much of Australia’s Defence and critical infrastructure dependant on ICT systems it is not surprising that the Government is concerned about the impact of hostile action on ICT networks by individuals, criminal organisations, sub state actors such as terror groups, and other governments may have on national security. 

Finally, cyber warfare and cyber espionage can also be fought via the online mass media.  The article is a warning to would be attackers that Australia’s Government and its agencies are aware of the threat and are capable of defending its ICT networks. Finally, although officially denied by Senator Faulkner (Minister for Defence) Packham does manage to mention China as a possible government sponsored source of attack.

Reference:

Packham, B. (2010, January 16).   Agency fights cyber spies. Herald Sun. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/agency-fights-cyber-spies/story-e6frf7jo-1225820150552.

Introduction to Cyber-espionage

As the name suggests cyber-espionage is spying that is conducted in cyberspace. 

Background

Espionage often called the second oldest profession reached achieved it ultimate prominence during the long running Cold War the non-open conflict between the bipolar superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR).   The Cold War ended in 1989 and so it was assumed that with the dissolution of the USSR that espionage would no longer be the foremost threat to national security (Johnson, 2000, p.18). 

However, while the world order had changed to the American hegemony, technology and especially computer mediated communications technology was rapidly developing giving rise to the Internet and then the World Wide Web.  The Internet and the Web would create a new virtual world commonly referred to as cyberspace.

 At the same time free of the geographical restrictions to international trade imposed during the Cold War the process of globalisation has also been advancing at a rapid rate resulting in economic competition and tensions between states.  Further, where once espionage was undertaken by the superpowers and their member states to obtain secret intelligence usually concerning defence capabilities, in the modern globalised world espionage may be conducted by a state to obtain secret or confidential information for commercial advantage (ASIO, 2009, p. 9).

What is the threat to Australia?

Cyber-terrorism may involve unauthorised access attempts to a country’s defence or financial systems to determine resilience to a denial of service attack, or the viewing and copying of data stored online  (Wilson, 2008, p.12). 

The benefits of conducting espionage online for governments is that it is difficult to identify the source when an act of cyber-espionage is detected.  Online spying is relatively inexpensive compared to traditional intelligence operations and is capable of identifying, copying and transferring large amounts of information within very short time frames (Wilson, 2008, p.12).  Finally, the social networking sites are vulnerable to acts of social engineering where foreign agents can monitor and interact with individuals known to have access to information or knowledge of (usually) commercially confidential information (Messmer, 2008).

Cyber-espionage poses a serious threat to Australia’s economy, society and international standing.

References

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. (2009). ASIO Report to Parliament 2008-09. Retrieved January 2, 2010 from http://www.asio.gov.au/Publications/content/CurrentAnnualReport/Content/Cover.aspx

 Johnson, L.K. (2000). Spies. Foreign Policy 120 (Sep-Oct), 18-26. Retrieved January 2, 2010 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1149708.

Messmer, E. (2008, January 17). Cyber espionage seen as growing threat to business, government. Networkworld.  Retrieved December 30, 2009 from http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/011708-cyberespionage.html

Wilson, C. (2008). CRS Report for Congress: Botnets, Cybercrime and Cyberterrorism: Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress. Washington DC, USA: Congressional Research Service. Retrieved December 30, 2009 from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl32114.pdf.

Apology for the long delay in posting

I want to apologise for the delay in posting to my blog.  My computer died which meant I couldn’t access the Internet on a regular basis.  Furthermore, I can’t access social networking sites and blogs on my work computer.  So I have been writing all the tasks in word and I am now populating the blog from my word files.

Why I am writing a blog about cyber-espionage

Espionage the dark side of information gathering!

I have always had a fascination with finding answers to problems and the sourcing of information or background data is to me the most enjoyable part of the problem solving process. In fact my first school report stated that I had an inquiring mind. Unfortunately, this was in the mid 1970s and the teacher wasn’t being complimentary as at that time learning was (mostly) by rote learning and school students were expected to sit down and shut up! However, it is pretty hard to stamp out something that is inherent in an individual and my interest in information collection, analysis and dissemination has continued.

I also have a strong interest in human behaviour, politics and good governance and I am fortunate enough to have a position in the Australian public sector to enables me to indulge in all of these interests. Nevertheless, I do not work for any of the Australian intelligence, security or defence agencies. My job involves researching and providing advice in the form of suggested solutions and/or appropriate responses for corporate and ministerial clients on a diverse range of issues that may include personal security, the security of critical infrastructure and national security. However, gathering information on sensitive issues using mostly overt sources that is where information is publicly or openly available, can be very time consuming, frustrating and ultimately unproductive!

To a certain extent my job may also involve the identification of actual and potential threats to the business continuity of my agency, especially with regard to the theft and leaking of commercially, operationally and/or politically confidential information. Unfortunately, the Internet is becoming increasingly the avenue of choice of many governments, businesses and individuals who engage in the practice of espionage, that is sourcing information by clandestine or hidden means. Espionage also traditionally involves obtaining confidential information from human sources and I am concerned that the social spaces of the Internet are becoming the new recruiting grounds for this type of activity.

Finally, in my blog I will discuss what is meant by the term cyber-espionage, the various forms it can take and the threat it poses to Australian national security.

Welcome to Satrye’s blog for OUA Unit Net34

Welcome to my blog that I have created as part of the assessment tasks of Net34: Web Publishing a unit from the major stream of the Internet Studies BA (Curtin).  The purpose of this blog is to gain experience publishing online.  The topic of this blog is Cyber-espionage and the threat it poses to Australia’s national security.

Regards

Satrye