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News of the day: Killnet hacker group, UFO report, US infant formula

2022-05-17T15:56:48.138Z


Constitutional protectors warn of attacks by pro-Russian hackers on German companies. At a hearing in Washington, military officials chat about the existence of UFOs. And in the US, baby food is becoming scarce. This is the situation on Tuesday evening.


1.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns German companies against attacks by pro-Russian hackers - fortunately their successes are still fairly manageable

“Against the background of the political situation”, attacks on German websites are to be expected – the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution today warned the country’s companies of attacks by the pro-Russian hacker group “Killnet”.


That sounds threatening at first.

The hackers, who are apparently loyal to Putin, are currently "running a campaign against various German websites from the private sector and research," according to the security advisories of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

In particular, a warning is given against so-called DDos attacks, which aim to paralyze websites through mass artificial calls.

The agency also warns of the "Revil" ransomware group.

The group blackmails its victims after crippling their systems.

A saying has been handed down from Bill Gates that he may never have said, but which can sometimes be regarded as a bitter truth: "The computer was invented to solve problems that didn't exist before." In fact, the "Killnet" hackers posted a list with the web addresses of various German "targets" on her channel on the Telegram messenger service - apparently as an appeal to her followers.

In the past few weeks, the pro-Russian activists have apparently been successful with a number of attacks against the websites of German authorities.

The sides of the BKA and the Federal Police were the target of mass coordinated disruption attempts.

According to an internal report by the authorities, the websites of the Bundestag, the Federal Ministry of Defense and the SPD website of Chancellor Olaf Scholz were also the target of attacks.

Here, SPIEGEL colleagues Matthias Gebauer, Sven Röbel, Marcel Rosenbach and Wolf Wiedmann-Schmidt describe the background.

Killnet is also active in other European countries that support Ukraine, such as the Czech Republic and Romania.

Last week, the hackers tried to disrupt the process and voting of the Eurovision Song Contest.

After that failed, the hackers published the web address of the Italian State Police as a new target.

With this attack, they apparently achieved their goal: the website was not accessible until noon today.

Apparently, the »Killnet« campaign is part of a larger dispute between so-called hacktivists surrounding the Ukraine war.

Shortly after it began, the Anonymous collective officially declared the “cyber war” to the Russian government in a video.

Since then, members of the loose movement have been attacking companies and government institutions in the Russian Federation.

»Killnet« emerged as a pro-Russian response to this cyber mobilization.

How big is the danger for German companies really?

My colleague Marcel Rosenbach says: "The disruptive actions of the hacktivists with the martial name may not seem particularly threatening and sometimes even ridiculous - however, those responsible have already shown that they can do more than shoot down websites." That's how they would have agreed known about digital break-ins and leaked data.

"A battle of hacktivist groups is currently raging around Ukraine," says the colleague. "Killnet is one of the pro-Russian side to be taken seriously."

  • Read the whole story here: The Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns German companies against pro-Russian hackers

And here is more news and background information on the war in Ukraine:

  • A large majority in the Finnish parliament votes in favor of joining NATO:

    Finland wants to join NATO, and after two days of debate the parliament gave the green light.

    Chancellor Scholz supports the step - and also takes Turkey to task.

  • Ukrainian soldiers removed from encircled steelworks:

    For weeks they stayed under the Azov steelworks in Mariupol, some seriously injured. Now more than 260 Ukrainian soldiers have been evacuated – to an area controlled by the Russians.

  • Union only wants to grant former chancellor Schröder personal protection:

    As former chancellor, Gerhard Schröder is entitled to office, staff and pension benefits.

    Now the Union is committed to removing almost everything because of its proximity to the Kremlin.

    The application is not the first attempt.

  • Find all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine here: The News Update

2.

At a hearing in Washington today, the military are talking about the possible existence of UFOs - because the superpower USA apparently does not have its own airspace under control

Where do the mysterious flying objects come from that US fighter pilots have encountered during their training missions over the west and east coasts in recent years?

For example, flying machines without wings and recognizable propulsion, some of which they saw with their own eyes and some of which were displayed by their on-board instruments?

An event is taking place in front of the US House of Representatives today, the likes of which were last held more than 50 years ago: Pentagon insiders have to answer questions about the existence of UFOs.

My colleague Marco Evers reports that there are bizarre videos circulating on the Internet that come from the thermal imaging cameras of American F/A-18 fighter jets.

The Pentagon has revealed that the recordings are authentic – and they raise doubts as to whether the United States actually has as good a grip on its national security as it believes.

The office of a secret service coordinator reported 144 incidents from 2004 to 2021 in a report last year, most of which was not subject to confidentiality.

I'm an avid moviegoer and like, for example, »Arrival«, director Denis Villeneuve's 2017 film about the arrival of extraterrestrials. In reality, I believe in the idea, particularly widespread among Americans, that flying objects from far away galaxies buzzing through our orbit for big bullshit.

According to the comparatively rational hypothesis among experts, the flying objects in the airspace of the USA could, for example, be advanced military technology from China or Russia.

What used to be a UFO (»Unidentified Flying Object«) and was ridiculed by the general public as a crazy idea is now called UAP (»Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon«) in the USA, reports the colleague.

What does it say about the US today that the hearing is taking place at all?

"The superpower doesn't know what's going on in its protected airspace," says Marco, "and it admits it." Now it's trying to find out and no longer ruling out the existence of UFOs.

"I would prefer if the investigations were not carried out by the secret services and the military, but rather by scientists who make their results transparent," said the colleague from SPIEGEL's science department.

"But the Pentagon has no interest in it - and that's why the UFO myth will probably live on for a long time."

  • Read the whole story here: The Pentagon chats about UFOs 

3.

Baby food is becoming scarce in the USA – also because American politicians are sealing off the market from European products

Many American parents are currently living in fear that they will soon no longer be able to feed their children - or no longer in a sensible way - writes my colleague Ines Zöttl in a report that really amazed me today.

The reason is a supply crisis in the supply of baby food.

Some babies and small children who need certain dairy products because of an illness, for example, are already getting smaller portions of food from their parents, writes the colleague.

However, doctors warned against diluting the prepared food or mixing it yourself using recipes from the Internet.

Large US retail chains have already rationed the sale of milk powder.

Behind the crisis, which US President Joe Biden has also commented on, is a special kind of delivery problem: America's market for baby food is largely isolated.

Two companies share 80 percent of the turnover.

In February, one of the two closed a plant in Michigan and recalled products made there after two babies died from a bacterial infection.

It is unclear whether the contamination really arose in the factory.

However, the already tense market was completely thrown off balance by the loss of production.

European manufacturers are largely locked out of the American market.

In April, American customs celebrated that they had confiscated 588 boxes of Hipp and Holle baby food.

The allegation: The packs, valued at $30,000, were not properly labeled.

The illegal goods from Germany and the Netherlands are very popular with many American parents.

The consumer portal of the »New York Times« devoted a separate article to the popularity of European products last year.

The officially banned goods are apparently traded happily and at high prices on the Internet.

After all, criticism of the protectionism of US politicians is now stirring.

»The President regularly celebrates America's industry and its products as world-class.

But now, after the corona crisis, it is the second time that America has failed because it considers its own standards to be superior," says my colleague Ines, who works in the USA.

»For months, rapid tests were hard to get here, while they are sold on every corner in Germany because the FDA set too high hurdles for approval.

Now it hits those who are particularly dependent on a functioning state.«

  • Read more here: Parents in the US are desperately looking for baby milk 

(Would you like to receive the "Situation in the evening" conveniently by e-mail in your inbox? Order the daily briefing as a newsletter here.)

What else is important today

  • Study warns of loss of prosperity in Germany:

    Management consultancy Deloitte warns that growth and prosperity will suffer significantly if Germany does not become more productive.

    At the same time, she presents proposals for a »real growth boost«.

  • Elon Musk brings discount for Twitter into play:

    Elon Musk wants to pay 44 billion US dollars for Twitter – so far.

    Most recently, the Tesla boss raised concerns about bots and fake accounts.

    Publicly, he now pondered a possible price reduction.

  • Grenoble allows burkinis in swimming pools:

    The debate was heated, the vote was extremely close: In Grenoble, women will be allowed to go to the swimming pool topless in the future – but also in full-body swimsuits.

    Critics don't want to accept that.

  • »Doctor Strange« actress Zara Phythian sentenced to eight years in prison:

    A court in Great Britain found Zara Phythian guilty of sexually abusing a teenager.

    The actress faces eight years in prison, her husband even longer.

My favorite story today...

Enlarge image

Author Maxi Obexer

Photo:

Nane Diehl

...is about the often cheerful insanity and the very serious problems that arise when German writers come together in an association.

After the crash in the German section of the PEN writers' association, my colleague Xaver von Cranach interviewed interim chairwoman Maxi Obexer.

PEN (»Poets, Essayists, Novelists«) is actually about solidarity and an unhindered exchange of ideas.

At the weekend there was a scandal at an annual conference in Gotha: the chairman Deniz Yücel was to be voted out, among other things it was about allegations of bullying.

He was not voted out, but then Yücel resigned along with his presidency.

Frau Obexer now says, with a nice inclination to pictorial language: “These are insane waves that have piled up and pushed against each other.

I think we should try to get over them and find the strength to do so.

Because the PEN is important for all those who are threatened and persecuted and risk their lives because of the free word.«

  • Read the full story here: »I was in shock.

    Everyone was shocked" 

What we recommend at SPIEGEL+ today

  • From project to problem:

    A progress coalition should be the traffic light.

    But instead, ministers goof up, MPs rebel – and voters say goodbye.

    Has the dream of a start-up project already burst? 

  • Macron's henchman:

    Élisabeth Borne is a woman, career civil servant and now French Prime Minister.

    Breaks the president - known for male cliques - with his previous policy?

    On the contrary. 

  • America's dangerous replacement cult:

    An 18-year-old allegedly shot ten black people in the US state of New York.

    He is said to have radicalized himself on the Internet.

    Many far-right myths circulating there have become mainstream.

What is less important today: Queen in a spring mood

Enlarge image

Photo: Andrew Matthews/AP

  • Elizabeth II, 96-year-old Queen, visited Paddington Station in London today and appeared in splendid spirits.

    The regent, who was often represented by other members of the royal family due to health problems, opened the "Elizabeth Line" named after her, dressed in bright yellow.

    The queen, who probably never traveled underground, had a ticket machine demonstrated and asked: "Where could I go?"

Typo of the day

, since corrected: The national parks director said proceeds from the sale would be used to support communities near wildlife reserves.

Cartoon of the Day:

Communication

And tonight?

Enlarge image

Scene from »Zur, Sache, Baby«

Photo:

ddp images

Could you watch Zur, Sache Schätzchen from 1968 or another film with Rainer Basedow.

I really liked the actor and cabaret artist who, as it was announced today, died on Sunday.

Basically, the sight of him put me in a good mood.

For example, when he appeared in the ensemble of the Munich Laughing and Shooting Society, in which he played alongside Renate Küster and Jochen Busse for many years.

Basedow, who grew up in Magdeburg and initially studied to be a teacher, became popular in many television roles.

But he had his greatest film appearances as a police officer.

He played the sergeant Dimpfelmoser in the children's cinema classic "Der Räuber Hotzenplotz" from 1973 and a Munich police officer in "Zur Sache, Schätzchen".

The scene in which Uschi Glas stands in a white corset at the police station and Basedow frantically puffs on a cigarette always makes me laugh.


A lovely evening.

Yours sincerely,


Wolfgang Hoebel

Here you can order the »Situation in the Evening« by e-mail.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-05-17

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