Source URL: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/21/0543252/china-isolates-itself-from-worldwide-web-for-over-an-hour
Source: Slashdot
Title: China Isolates Itself From Worldwide Web For Over an Hour
Feedly Summary:
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The incident involving a 74-minute shutdown of encrypted web traffic in China highlights significant security and compliance implications for international businesses relying on secure connections. This event not only affected access to foreign websites but also raised concerns about censorship technologies and their impact on infrastructure security.
Detailed Description:
– The shutdown of encrypted web traffic in China on August 20 disrupted citizens’ access to foreign websites and significantly affected international business operations reliant on secure connections.
– The Great Firewall of China injected forged TCP RST+ACK packets to terminate all connections on port 443, which is typically used for HTTPS—a protocol essential for secure web communications.
– Both consumers and major corporations, including Apple and Tesla, faced interruptions as they were unable to connect to essential offshore servers.
– The timing of the incident, with no notable events requiring an information blackout, raises questions regarding the motives behind the shutdown, suggesting it could be related to testing or new censorship technology.
– The situation mirrors a similar decline in internet traffic in Pakistan a few hours before, indicating a potential connection through shared firewall technology.
– **Key Implications for Security and Compliance Professionals**:
– Businesses that operate internationally must develop robust strategies to mitigate risks associated with sudden disruptions caused by state-level interventions.
– Understanding the technical capabilities and strategies of censorship tools like the Great Firewall is essential for infrastructure security planning.
– The incident illustrates the importance of maintaining compliance with varying international laws and regulations governing internet access and data transmission, particularly in authoritarian regimes.
Such events highlight the fragility of global digital infrastructure and the need for a proactive approach to security and compliance in cloud and international operations.