Yesterday I was arguing with a colleague over the reality of cyber threats, in this case from China.
“I don’t believe it,” he said. “Do you believe everything you see on the Internet?”
“No. I consider the sources, and any agenda they may have. And I look for the primary source, the actual witness or victim or the first reporter on the scene. But are you saying you don’t think these attacks are happening?” I did a quick three-word Google search and immediately came up with a New York Times article on the subject.
“If China was really doing that stuff, we’d be at war with them.”
“We are moving toward war. Wouldn’t you consider it an act of war if the Chinese penetrated our nuclear missile command and control networks? Because they have.” Another Google, another instant example. “And it’s not the Chinese police, not the Chinese civil government, but the Chinese Army that is perpetrating these attacks.”
But no, he would not take it from me, and frankly that’s fine, as long as one is open to finding valid evidence and applying critical analysis to it. That call for more education than just technical certifications, though.
You shouldn’t take it from me either. Consider the Wall Street Journal as a possibly qualified source:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323826704578356182878527280.html
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