Russian Ships Near Data Cables Are Too Close for U.S. Comfort

[RKP5637]

Interesting article. Analogous to stopping the flow of oil. I hope we're not moving back into the cold war sh**.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/world/europe/russian-presence-near-undersea-cables-concerns-us.html?_r=2&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

WASHINGTON — Russian submarines and spy ships are aggressively operating near the vital undersea cables that carry almost all global Internet communications, raising concerns among some American military and intelligence officials that the Russians might be planning to attack those lines in times of tension or conflict.

While there is no evidence yet of any cable cutting, the concern is part of a growing wariness among senior American and allied military and intelligence officials over the accelerated activity by Russian armed forces around the globe. At the same time, the internal debate in Washington illustrates how the United States is increasingly viewing every Russian move through a lens of deep distrust, reminiscent of relations during the Cold War.

“I’m worried every day about what the Russians may be doing,” said Rear Adm. Frederick J. Roegge, commander of the Navy’s submarine fleet in the Pacific, who would not answer questions about possible Russian plans for cutting the undersea cables.

Cmdr. William Marks, a Navy spokesman in Washington, said: “It would be a concern to hear any country was tampering with communication cables; however, due to the classified nature of submarine operations, we do not discuss specifics.”

Just last month, the Russian spy ship Yantar, equipped with two self-propelled deep-sea submersible craft, cruised slowly off the East Coast of the United States on its way to Cuba — where one major cable lands near the American naval station at Guantánamo Bay. It was monitored constantly by American spy satellites, ships and planes. Navy officials said the Yantar and the submersible vehicles it can drop off its decks have the capability to cut cables miles down in the sea.

“The level of activity,” a senior European diplomat said, “is comparable to what we saw in the Cold War.”

One NATO ally, Norway, is so concerned that it has asked its neighbors for aid in tracking Russian submarines.

[Human101948]

1. But if they cut those cables...

how will Russian hackers have access to our banking and credit card information?

[underpants]

6. Yeah and being on hold with "Peggy" will take FOREVER

[RKP5637]

7. ...

[Human101948]

8. I'm on hold with "Marlon" right now...

Marlon Brando must have had a wild weekend in Manila back when because that's where this American Express rep is answering the phone!

[RKP5637]

11. ...

[Historic NY]

2. You can bet a "boomer" is laying wait.

[RKP5637]

4. I was thinking, it could be an incredible hostage situation. Do this or we will do this ... n/t

[L0oniX]

3. OK I'm going back to a land line and dialup.

[RKP5637]

5. Crystal radio sets work well too!

[uawchild]

9. The Creepy, Long-Standing Practice of Undersea Cable Tapping

"The newest NSA leaks reveal that governments are probing "the Internet's backbone." How does that work?

In the early 1970's, the U.S. government learned that an undersea cable ran parallel to the Kuril Islands off the eastern coast of Russia, providing a vital communications link between two major Soviet naval bases. The problem? The Soviet Navy had completely blocked foreign ships from entering the region.

Not to be deterred, the National Security Agency launched Operation Ivy Bells, deploying fast-attack submarines and combat divers to drop waterproof recording pods on the lines. Every few weeks, the divers would return to gather the tapes and deliver them to the NSA, which would then binge-listen to their juicy disclosures.

The project ended in 1981, when NSA employee Ronald Pelton sold information about the program to the KGB for $35,000. He's still serving his life prison term.

The operation might have ended, but for the NSA, this underwater strategy clearly stuck around."

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/the-creepy-long-standing-practice-of-undersea-cable-tapping/277855/

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THIS is what it's all really about.

[RKP5637]

10. Thanks for this link!!!!! n/t