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'We hacked the FBI:' Hackers say they have data on all FBI employees

817 points · 614 comments · spenvo

  1. jacobgold · · focus · HN ↗
    At this point, no one seems capable of keeping a large database safe. I assume all medical and biographical information that exists is in the hands of the major state actors.

    China hacked 22.1 million records of US government employees:

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;2015_Office_of_Personnel_Management_data_breach" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;2015_Office_of_Personnel_Manag...

    1. coldpie · · focus · HN ↗
      It is unthinkable to me that anyone believes there is such a thing as computer security after so many years of nonstop hacks and leaks. If you have a computer and it is connected to a network with access to the Internet, assume that computer is semi-public. Meaning, if someone was interested enough in accessing your computer, they could do it. Do not hook any computer with access to anything that would be devastating if it was made public to the Internet. Do not put anything that would be devastating if it was made public onto someone else&#x27;s Internet-connected computers.

      For example, do not hook your goddamn water or traffic or electricity infrastructure up to the goddamn Internet, and then, do fire the guy who suggested it.

      The correct analogy for computer security is not locks and keys and doors and gates. It is a house in a floodplain. Your house will not survive the flood of it hits you. Do not store anything critical or irreplaceable in that house.

      1. dark-star · · focus · HN ↗
        I&#x27;ve been telling people for years that it&#x27;s probably easier that they get used to the thought that everything about them is &quot;public&quot; in some way than waiting for the day when computers and databases are suddenly safe from hacking.

        That doesn&#x27;t mean that all of your neighbors know your medical history, but you have to assume that someone who wants to know those details about you will know them.

        I have lost faith in people protecting any significant database from hackers.

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