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Systems that no one will test

154 points · 84 comments · perone

  1. mikewarot · · focus · HN ↗
    Every since the OPM hack of 2015, I've been apparent to me that my former field of IT administration has lost the plot. Nobody knows what a data diode is, or why you would use one. Systems that should clearly be air-gapped aren't.

    While it's easy to lay this at the feet of AI getting better at hacking. I see it as an primarily an IT issue. We've collectively ignored the lessons of history, and made do with patch jobs over poorly chosen operating systems instead.

    --

    We need air gaps, data diodes, and capability based operating systems. Now that I'm retired, when I have the energy, I'm working on the data diode part.

    This weeks lesson for me, personally, as I try to build an open source data diode, is that the Waveshare RP2350-ETH is a horrible choice for a proxy/data source/sink, as the CH9120 ethernet interface can't do promiscuous mode. It might still be sufficient to build a data diode that can mirror a website, with << $50 component cost. Time will tell.

    1. jandrewrogers · · focus · HN ↗
      In the last few years I’ve seen multiple startups describe normal systems running on AWS as “air-gapped” because there is a firewall. LARPers have diluted several terms that had specific meaning in a system isolation and security context to the point that I can no longer trust when people describe their systems using them.

      There are far too many unserious people representing our industry.

      1. podocarp · · focus · HN ↗
        LARP is benign, or at least unintentional, I suspect most are just fraudulent claims. Air gap is easily explained by the two words themselves. You would be daft to think anything on AWS was air gapped.
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