Cyber attacks

There have been a spate of cyber-attacks on supermarket freezers across Europe of late. I do not know who is behind these. 

Whist these will hit supermarkets hard, far worse is possible, so states have to be on their guard and have contingency plans.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq1kd1nee80eo .

Cyber security

It is much more likely that any future wars would be very cyber based, with people heavily dependent on the internet for banking, communications and so much these days. Just imagine if we were suddenly without this!

Some countries are way ahead of the UK and USA in preparing for this eventuality.

My advice? Have plenty of cash and tinned food around.

End of the good times? - NOT amateur radio

Increasingly I am fearful of the future. 

In the West we depend on long and complex supply chains chasing ever lower costs. Much of our energy (including electricity) depends on gas.

Just imagine if a terrorist or state actor seriously disrupted our gas supply or food supply chain. In the worst case, lots of things could fail: electricity for traffic lights, water pumping, sewage, internet, cash machines, banks, airlines, trains, etc.. Think about what happened in Spain!!

What I am saying is we are very vulnerable to a cyber attack, more so than we realise.

Is it all bad?  No, a new realisation of how things work would, ultimately, be good. Humans do adapt. Longer term, we might realise just how inter-connected these things really are and how we need, as individuals, to build up some resilience.

What can we do now?

• Increase vigilance against cyber attacks
• Make sure batteries are charged.
• Have some emergency food stuffs.
• Grow some food.
• Have some cash.

Hopefully, we will be stronger in future.

Cyber attack? - NOT amateur radio

 I heard yesterday that all the major UK rail station WiFi systems had suffered what was thought to be a cyber attack. If these can be attacked what else could be done?

Cyber attacks - NOT amateur radio

From my own limited experience, I know cyber attacks are a real threat.

According to the BBC the UK Foreign Secretary is to warn Russia that the UK will retaliate if the Russians are guilty of cyber attacks that threaten national security. I am sure most governments have a "dirty tricks" department. Some get caught. It is the nature of 21st century warfare.

See www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42450479 .