National Cellular Outage? GhostNet, etc.

For some in the inbox that I need a quick answer to….enjoy this from an earlier post on the KYPN BBS systems via 12m Robust Packet (RPR). Busy with finishing a work project so we can return home this weekend, so forgive any formatting issues from this quick cut-n-paste…

—–Original Message—–
From: WA4ZKO
To: NEWS
Sent: 02/22/2024 11:40
Subject: National Cellular Outage? GhostNet, etc.

Let me start with….

1. As of 1630 Eastern, zero evidence that this is a cyberattack.

2. Credible sources are saying AT&T had major issues starting around 3:40am Eastern. Cause = unknown at the point.

3. XYL’s biz data is over a Verizon PWN layer and links to both their USA gateway points have been up for days, not missing a beat. We use a mix of VZW, T-Mobile, and IP softphone/IP-RF systems (satphones as backup) and zero issues. Only one family member (on AT&T) reported no service this morning that quickly cleared up on its own.

4. Remember a lot of these “down” detection websites are very susceptible to misinterpreting incoming reports. Remember they depend upon the accuracy of user data (comments, complaints, etc) and that approach can easily lead to things “appearing” far worse than they are. Think GIGO 😉

5. Most eye opening thing I’ve read/heard is that FirstNet (AT&T) was impacted in some areas.

6. What probably happened? Bad software/configuration update deployed early this morning. To be clear that’s just a guess.

7. Some of the reaction across certain folks in ham radio ranges from LOL material to somewhat productive.

Below is from ####’s (GhostNet’s founder up in ###########) GhostNet feed around 1500z this morning:

Due to the national cellular outage, I will be monitoring GhostNet 40m throughout the day. Though it seems like cellular coverage has mostly been restored, real-world events are sometimes great opportunities for a bit of casual readiness testing. No one knows when or where a comms outage may strike, but what is certain is that it will usually occur at the most inopportune times.

I present his posting only to hopefully “get you thinking about your family’s preparedness plans…..including your backup comm plan” angle.

For a bit of humor…

Average Joe this morning….
“Russia, Russia, OMG it’s a Russian Cyberattack!”

Those of us in IT…
“After reviewing the outage charts we just enjoyed our coffee while asking “Did they hire Boeing’s QA/Change Management team?” or muttered “oh you poor bast@rd that hit enter on that deployment.” or one could almost hear the “Oh cr#$, ROLL IT BACK, ROLL IT BACK NOW!” LOL. #SuxToBeYou

Back to being serious….

I’m not sure how effective “GhostNet” would be in a “real world” grid down communications emergency. That aside, he is applying a “real world readiness test” angle to it and there is nothing wrong with that. Also makes a couple valid points.

The XYL likes to ask me why I bother with some of my recent postings on the packet systems (yes we have a few LOL) and sometimes crosspost to the blog. She’s correct in the “the lack of preparedness of others is not our problem anymore, especially if 2020 did not wake them up” comment often heard in my home LOL. I answer that with “we’ve both seen just how vulnerable so many families are right now – financially, food, water, medicine, job loss, disasters, etc. So if I can motivate just a few towards getting their family better prepared, I say “mission accomplished” 🙂

We are in the midst of a world slowly sleepwalking into a major credit/debt and severe inflation* crisis. Then tack on the increasing crime, societal decay, and political corruption to that and things could get even uglier. We have “kicked the can” to the edge of a cliff called consequences. We are one
real** major cyberattack, one EMP attack, one dirty bomb, or one missile launch away from pure chaos, panic, civil unrest, and rapidly spreading violence.

* Yes it can get worse, a lot worse. Ahem, think Argentina and several other countries.

** When the RU Cyber Warfare folks are done with UA they may well decide to turn their full attention our way (ahem payback)  and it’ll likely be obvious.

Hint – RU is not the only threat out there with the capability of delivering us a cyber Pearl Harbor. The wise will plan accordingly.

While I’m not advocating tin foil hats and underground bunkers, there are many real world scenarios facing us that you might wish to at least give some “what if?” thought to. Or…well you can stick your head in the sand and hope that it all works out hunky dory.

Personally, I prefer preparedness over luck.

73
Jeff
WA4ZKO via HF RPR into the KY BBS. No internet used nor needed 😉