DAVE ROSS

Ross: Not one hacked computer was smart enough to alert its owners

Oct 20, 2020, 6:41 AM | Updated: 10:19 am

The Justice Department has charged six Russian military intelligence officers with a series of cyberattacks two years ago that scrambled computers at a Pennsylvania medical network, at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, and even turned off the power to part of Ukraine for an hour.

I read through the indictment – and what’s amazing is that even though the hackers erased the log files to hide their tracks, U.S. investigators were able to trace them to an address in Russia: 22 Kirova Street.

They would send out emails with attachments that were poisoned with malware that would erase all the system files, or quietly forward data to 22 Kirova Street in Moscow – and it would all happen unbeknownst to the hackees.

Because as usual, NOT ONE of the hacked computers was smart enough to alert its owners. Despite all that artificial intelligence, most computers are still too dumb to say, “Hey – did you just order me to turn off the lights in Ukraine?” Or, “HEY! Did you just give me an order to send all your private data to 22 Kirova Street?”

And that’s the real problem: There are still all these asymptomatic computers that don’t realize they’re spreading malware. And until that changes, someone needs to send a backhoe crew to 22 Kirova Street that somehow forgets to call before they dig.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

30 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

Ross: Not one hacked computer was smart enough to alert its owners