The Download from MIT Technology Review: Russia is laying foundations for huge cyber attacks

MIT Technology Review
Russia is laying foundations for huge cyber attacks   
The Download from MIT Tech Review

MIT Technology Review    
04.17
   
The Download
Good morning!
Here are today's most important stories in emerging technology.

Russia is laying foundations for big hacks.

That’s according to a joint announcement by American and British cyber cops.
Network hacks: The DHS, FBI, and the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre warn that Russian hackers have targeted network infrastructure, like routers, belonging to organizations including energy networks, emergency services, and the military.
Why it matters: The FBI says it has “high confidence" that Russian state-sponsored hackers are using the affected hardware to perform espionage, maintain access to networks, and “lay a foundation for future offensive operations.”
What happens now: Russia's cyber chops are clearly still growing, and, as the BBC notes, the US is likely conducting similar preparatory operations in Russia. Question now is, does that act as a mutual deterrent to prevent a huge cyber war?
Chinese firms are raising national security fears.
British and US officials also issued warnings about Chinese hardware firm ZTE.
Hacking fears: UK cyber officials told the nation's carriers that ZTE's equipment poses a threat to UK national security, and could be used to hack infrastructure.
Geopolitics meets tech: Meanwhile, the US Commerce Department banned American firms from selling technology to ZTE, after the company breached terms of a settlement punishing it for violation of sanctions on Iran and North Korea.
Why it matters: Such maneuvering is likely to push nations to champion their own tech firms. See, for example: France creating its own version of secure messaging app Telegram after Russia asked Telegram to hand over its encryption keys.

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Ten Fascinating Things

Our roundup of today's top tech news to get you thinking and debating.
1
   
The Facebook roundup
— Its face recognition AI is to be the subject of a class-action lawsuit. (BBC)
— The firm admitted it tracks non-users, and said how it works. (Register)
— With Congressional hearings over, the firm should focus on the EU. (TR)
— People aren't too bothered about regulating social networks. (WSJ $)
2
   
Android apps break child privacy rules
At least 5,885 violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (Guardian)
3
   

Alibaba is developing its own driverless cars
It wants to build an entire ecosystem around autonomous vehicles. (TR)
4
   

Tesla has halted its Model 3 production
— A pause will “improve automation” to “increase production rates.” (WSJ $)
— But Elon Musk recently said reliance on robots slowed production. (CBS)
5
   
Amazon is winning the smart home race
Developers favor its products when building new houses. (Information $)
+ The e-tailer may be reining in its plans to sell pharmaceuticals. (CNBC)
6
   

How the One Laptop Per Child project failed
Inside the well-meaning, but flawed, plan to give every kid a PC. (Verge)
7
   
Facial recognition works on thermal images
Neural networks can understand our features in infrared pictures. (US Army)
8
   

Microsoft is suddenly going off-piste
It’s designed an Arm-based IoT chip that runs Linux. No, seriously. (Register)
9
   

Google will digitally preserve historical sites
It's going to laser-scan them so you can explore 'em inside VR. (Verge)
10
   
What’s it like to live without broadband access in America?
This. (Motherboard)

Quote of the Day

“The bot did all the hard work. It shows how lazy hackers have become.”

— Ross Rustici, head of intelligence services at security research firm Cybereason, explains to the BCC how even hackers are making use of automation these days.
Jamie Condliffe
   
Top images by image4you/Kremlin. Written with help from Martin Giles.

Please send fewer hacks to hi@technologyreview.com.

Follow me on Twitter at @jme_c. Thanks for reading!

— Jamie
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