South Korea: Chinese address source of cyberattack

A depositor leaves after checking his account through an automated teller machine at a subway station as the bank's computer networks was paralyzed in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2013. / AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

SEOUL, South Korea A Chinese Internet address was the source of a cyberattack on one of the South Korean companies hit in a massive computer shutdown that affected five other banks or media companies, initial findings indicated Thursday.

It's too early to assign blame — Internet addresses can easily be manipulated and disguised — but suspicion for Wednesday's shutdown quickly fell on North Korea, which has threatened Seoul with attack in recent days because of anger over U.N. sanctions imposed for its Feb. 12 nuclear test.

• Experts suspect North behind South Korea computer crash
• China willing to talk with U.S. over cyberattacks

Experts say hackers often attack via computers in other countries to hide their identities. South Korea has previously accused North Korean hackers of using Chinese addresses to attack.

The crash Wednesday caused computer networks at major banks and top TV broadcasters to crash simultaneously. It paralyzed bank machines across the country and raised fears that this heavily Internet-dependent society was vulnerable.

8 Photos

Computer crash in South Korea paralyzes banks, media

A Chinese address created the malicious code in the server of one of the banks, Nonghyup, where computers crashed, according to an initial analysis by the state-run Korea Communications Commission, South Korea's telecom regulator.

It is expected to take at least four to five days for the infected computers to recover fully.

Regulators have distributed vaccine software to government offices, banks, hospitals and other institutions to prevent more outages.

[1000Chan]

China has an extreme and paranoid control over their Internet. The attack eminating from China shows the country is openly willing to terrorize private entities in other countries.

China bears full responsibility for it's terrorism.

[Evidence89]

Interesting...

[BWB2020]

Ever heard of spoofing?

Some US agency could well be trying to frame N.K./China.

After all, we did frame Vietnam, Grenada, Saddam, The Taliban, and also Gaddafi. All lies.

The problem with reports like this is that history proves that they are far more likely to be lies from the US war agitprop section, than they are to be truth.

Of course, there will be fake "wailing and gnashing of teeth" from the war mongers, apoplectic over the plight of the oppressed in Syria, while supporting oppression in their own.

[day4night]

Come on now...

[SL-Mania]

North Koreans feel be at war with South Koreans.

I'm interested in the fact that "A Chinese Internet address was the source of a cyberattack on one of the South Korean companies hit in a massive computer shutdown ".

North Korea and China look quite alike to me.

[1000Chan]

North Korea and China are hand in hand terrorists.

[pickapeck13]

Yeah, because nobody can spoof an IP address. What a load of malarkey.

By the way, every network card contains a microprocessor, the internals of which are basically ignored in any "security" assessment you've ever seen. You might as well get used to the idea that every bit you send or receive across the wire is being recorded by somebody.

The only thing encryption will do for you is alert nosy parties that you're hiding something. If the NSA couldn't break it, it wouldn't be available.

Have a nice day.

[alphaa10000]

Here you are-- http://linuxgazette.net/issue63/sharma.html

[ckcalmer]

The world needs to start treating "cyber-attacks" the same as any other kind of attack, and respond appropriately. For instance, South Korea should sink a North Korean warship in response to yesterday's attack by the north.

If no government will begin doing it, then those of us with the means should begin showing them how.

[Evidence89]

Well said.

[paid50CentPartyshills]

China has the most monitored and censored Internet network in the world, and endless Internet aggression and brazen hacking theft continually tie back to Chinese networks. China is run by state-sponsored terrorists...

[alphaa10000]

Yet, even dictators can be rational.

For its own interests, the PRC has no logical motive to build up tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world.

On the other hand, North Korea's Kim Jong-Un would welcome a war by creating the impression of Chinese involvement in the attack.

[1000Chan]

China does have an iron fist over it's networks, which this was another act of terror form China.

[paid50CentPartyshills]

China has the most monitored and censored Internet network in the world, and endless Internet aggression and brazen hacking theft continually tie back to Chinese networks. China is run by state-sponsored terrorists.

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

North Korea is like a bully, a gang member, or a criminal. Cowering against their attack only embolden them. The only language a bully, a gang member or a criminal will understand is violence, pain, and death.

South Korea should respond against North Korea's aggression with extreme violence and inflicts serious destruction and pain to North Korea especially at their leadership hierarchy. That will make North Korea to think twice whenever it wants to intimidate South Korea again.

Like all victims of violence, South Korea should stand up, speak out, and fight back.

[jimarch01]

One problem. North Korea has been ALLOWED to develop nuclear weapons that can easily strike South Korea, so the bargaining is over! Our present U.S. Administration will not stand up to anyone so we are perceived around the world as a "patsy" nation. That means WEAK!!! Same is happening with Iran and their nuc. program. But not to worry, our press. will go TALK to them and everything will be OK. There is time to nego......BANG!!!! CIVILIZED nations are history!!!!

[kbbpll]

Yeah jimarch01, that would have never happened under a tough-guy administration like GW Bush. Oh, wait, that's when NK developed and tested their first nuke. That axis of evil TALK sure worked wonders.