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Sure, but realistically, how many of us right here have state level actors in our threat models? I sure don't, because it'd be impossible to live a normal life

Sure, but realistically, how many of us right here have state level actors in our threat models? I sure don't, because it'd be impossible to live a normal life then.

iamnothere 1y ago
But state level actors could target you, so you should immediately abandon any hope of privacy, disable your ad blockers, stop using Signal, install Windows 11, cease any complaints about the government, and eat the bugs.
ranger_danger 1y ago
How would you know?
- brookst 1y ago
  Don't most of us know what's in our threat model? Nobody spends energy worrying that the universe is an evil compiler that warps reality specifically to target us. Because 1) it's unlikely, and 2) if it were true there's no change in defensive posture that would help. It's the same for most individuals when considering being targeted by state actors. Unlikely, and not defensible, so no point hand wringing.
  - jijijijij 1y ago
    Also, no state-actor would ever blow an immensely costly and rare backdoor like that on us peasants here. Even, if you would threaten to kill all the puppies. That's the sort of thing they reserve for state-level shenanigans, 100% targeting servers, infrastructure and industry, not individuals. Though, I also doubt, they would just shelve these epic exploits, since a universal Linux backdoor likely puts themself at risk too, unless you can pull off a grand conspiracy, or deliver patched packages to your own people without questions asked. Maybe a completely locked down country like North Korea could do it. I doubt many other countries got an incentive, unless in preparation of a specific attack.
  - lukan 1y ago
    "Nobody spends energy worrying that the universe is an evil compiler that warps reality specifically to target us" I have not heard that specific scenario yet, but indeed quite similar ones from very depressed/mentally ill people. Basically that the whole universe was created to torture them specifically. (Probably there is even a medical term for that) But yes, a sane person should rather be concerned to not fall scam to one of the various criminal groups. That is a real cyber threat for most people and companies. So minding basic security helps, even if the NSA will likely get past that in no time.
mixedbit 1y ago
As Stuxnet showed us, you don't need to run a nuclear program to be infected by malware developed by state level actors.

Sure, but realistically, how many of us right here have state level actors in our threat models? I sure don't, because it'd be impossible to live a normal life then.

iamnothere 1y ago

But state level actors could target you, so you should immediately abandon any hope of privacy, disable your ad blockers, stop using Signal, install Windows 11, cease any complaints about the government, and eat the bugs.

ranger_danger 1y ago

How would you know?

brookst 1y ago
Don't most of us know what's in our threat model? Nobody spends energy worrying that the universe is an evil compiler that warps reality specifically to target us. Because 1) it's unlikely, and 2) if it were true there's no change in defensive posture that would help. It's the same for most individuals when considering being targeted by state actors. Unlikely, and not defensible, so no point hand wringing.
- jijijijij 1y ago
  Also, no state-actor would ever blow an immensely costly and rare backdoor like that on us peasants here. Even, if you would threaten to kill all the puppies. That's the sort of thing they reserve for state-level shenanigans, 100% targeting servers, infrastructure and industry, not individuals. Though, I also doubt, they would just shelve these epic exploits, since a universal Linux backdoor likely puts themself at risk too, unless you can pull off a grand conspiracy, or deliver patched packages to your own people without questions asked. Maybe a completely locked down country like North Korea could do it. I doubt many other countries got an incentive, unless in preparation of a specific attack.
- lukan 1y ago
  "Nobody spends energy worrying that the universe is an evil compiler that warps reality specifically to target us" I have not heard that specific scenario yet, but indeed quite similar ones from very depressed/mentally ill people. Basically that the whole universe was created to torture them specifically. (Probably there is even a medical term for that) But yes, a sane person should rather be concerned to not fall scam to one of the various criminal groups. That is a real cyber threat for most people and companies. So minding basic security helps, even if the NSA will likely get past that in no time.

mixedbit 1y ago

As Stuxnet showed us, you don't need to run a nuclear program to be infected by malware developed by state level actors.