Natto Thoughts

Natto Thoughts explores the multifaceted impact of global issues at the intersection of culture, technology, and security, through analysis, stories, and insights. It covers state-sponsored cyber operations, geopolitical tensions, digital governance, disinformation tactics, and the socio-political dynamics influencing cybersecurity practices and policies worldwide.

Cybersecurity Geopolitical Tensions Digital Governance Disinformation Cultural Dynamics Technology Trends Global Security Issues

The hottest Substack posts of Natto Thoughts

And their main takeaways

Vocabulary of Mutiny, Mafia and Misery

19 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Russian history Political crisis Global Influence
  1. The vocabulary surrounding the Prigozhin mutiny in Russia includes terms like 'bardak', 'bezobrazie', and 'bespredel' which reflect different levels of mess, outrage, and lawlessness.
  2. Commentators have drawn parallels between the current Russian conflicts and the criminal world, using terms like 'razborki' and 'ponyatiya' to describe power struggles and unwritten codes of conduct.
  3. People have evoked historical events like the Time of Troubles and the Russian Civil War to make sense of the Prigozhin drama, highlighting similarities and warning against the potential consequences of conflicts like the Kornilov mutiny.

Pinduoduo: When Business Success Comes with Hacking

19 implied HN points • 26 May 23
💼 Business Technology Security E-commerce Ethics International
  1. Pinduoduo allegedly had a hacking team that exploited vulnerabilities in Android systems to gather user data and influence user behavior for profit.
  2. The head of security at Pinduoduo, a genius hacker, was dismissed for refusing to conduct hacking attacks, showcasing ethical principles in the face of company pressure.
  3. Pinduoduo's growth model involved combining social commerce with exploiting mobile vulnerabilities, leading to rapid success and potential security concerns, especially as team members moved to its subsidiary Temu.

The inspiration of early hacker culture; not your father’s DDoS; Prigozhin mutiny in cyberspace; China inching toward Ukraine? MOVEIt hack raises risk of deepfake scams

19 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Hacking Geopolitics Data Breach Deepfake
  1. The German television miniseries 'The Billion Dollar Code' on Netflix captures the excitement of early hacker culture.
  2. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are evolving in sophistication and targeting new entities, posing significant cyber risks.
  3. China's potential support for Ukraine in reclaiming disputed territories, like Crimea, signifies a shift in geopolitical dynamics and requires careful observation.

China as a Target of Cyberattacks: What China Says About Who Are in Their Systems

19 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Geopolitics Espionage Vulnerabilities Threats
  1. The top APT groups targeting China come from Taiwan, Vietnam, India, North Korea, Russia, and the US, showing the diverse origin of cyber threats against China.
  2. China's geopolitical tensions with neighboring countries like India manifest in cyberspace, with APT groups from these regions actively targeting Chinese organizations.
  3. QAX's Global APT report points out the exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities by overseas APT groups targeting China, such as the iMessage 0-click 0day vulnerability, reflecting the global nature of cyber threats.

Hacker “Bentley” indicted; China weaponizing vulnerabilities; Journalists suspect poisoning; Breakfast on the Verge of the Apocalypse; Free WIFI in China comes with a cost; Disinformation wins a round

19 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Russia China Disinformation Journalism
  1. Russian hackers 'Bentley' have used Trickbot and Conti malware to steal funds, leading to indictments and sanctions from the US and UK.
  2. China has a system that nationalizes vulnerability disclosures, sharing data with agencies like the CNCERT/CC and Ministry of Public Security, raising concerns.
  3. Journalist Elena Kostyuchenko suspected of being poisoned, highlights the dangers faced by critical journalists in Russia, with a forthcoming book 'I Love Russia'.
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Skepticism about Russian Internet Cutoff, Backpack Nukes, and Cybersecurity Awards

19 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Internet Governance National Security Cybersecurity Nuclear Weapons
  1. There are doubts about Russia's readiness to operate its own internet independently, despite claims of conducting a test cutoff.
  2. Debates over internet governance and fragmentation are ongoing, with Russia seeking ITU oversight instead of a multi-stakeholder approach.
  3. Some cybersecurity awards programs may be more about advertising than indicating actual excellence in cybersecurity.

Russia After Putin: Dictatorship, Democracy, or Chaos?

19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics
  1. Russia's post-Putin future is uncertain, with scenarios ranging from dictatorship to democracy to chaos.
  2. The possibility of a democratic renewal in Russia is complicated by divisions in the opposition and the influence of the siloviki and other security forces.
  3. Memories and fears of chaos in Russia's history will likely shape decisions after Putin, with scenarios envisioning potential breakup or descent into chaos.

Natto Thoughts Explainer: China’s Great Leap Forward into a Brand-new Electric Vehicle Industry

19 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
💼 Business Industry Market Competition Policy Innovation
  1. China's top-down strategy in developing the EV industry has led to significant market dominance, increasing the country's global economic influence.
  2. The three stages of China's EV industry development involved government support, special programs, and industry incentives to rapidly create a new industry.
  3. The growth and advancements in China's EV industry have implications of boosting global climate policies, forming industry alliances, and intensifying competition among EV makers.

Stymied in Ukraine, Putin’s Government Resorts to Covert Sabotage and Panic-Mongering in the West

19 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare Psychological Warfare International relations
  1. Putin's government is resorting to covert sabotage and panic-mongering in the West, especially targeting Ukraine's allies, to sow panic and amplify discontent.
  2. Analysts speculate on Putin's determination to stay in power and continue the war in Ukraine, citing his mission to undo Soviet breakup humiliation and potentially recreate the Russian empire.
  3. Russia is engaging in psychological warfare globally, using a combination of cyber and physical attacks on critical infrastructure to erode morale in Ukraine and its supporters.

i-SOON Toolkit: What is “TZ”?

1 HN point • 24 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Networks Investigation Intelligence Training
  1. The acronym "TZ" found in leaked i-SOON documents could stand for phrases like special investigation or special reconnaissance, and it is crucial for Chinese public security bureaus, hinting at its importance in network security efforts.
  2. In the context of Chinese acronyms, TZ might represent Chinese phrases with Pinyin initials T and Z, such as investment, special investigation, special military, or other relevant terms.
  3. Companies like i-SOON have seen business opportunities in offering products and training related to network investigation and reconnaissance, indicating a high demand for capabilities in this area among Chinese public security bureaus.

Natto Thoughts is One Year Old

0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Security Research Analysis Consulting
  1. Natto Thoughts celebrated its one-year anniversary by exploring unique angles on topics like Russian psychological operations
  2. The Natto Team's work has gained significant recognition and has been featured in major global media outlets
  3. Upcoming content from Natto Thoughts will focus on delving into Russian extortion operations to understand financial and political motives behind ransomware attacks

Welcome to "Natto Thoughts"

0 implied HN points • 07 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Language Institutions Cuisine Health
  1. This Substack delves into the intersection of culture and technology, exploring the behaviors of individuals in the information age.
  2. The name "Natto Thoughts" draws a comparison to fermented foods like natto, highlighting the idea that thoughts, like fermentation, need time to develop and grow.
  3. The content of the Substack focuses on language, culture, institutions, political systems, and unwritten social rules that influence human actions.

Who Is Protecting Yevgeniy Prigozhin? Speaking of Successors.... Moscow Preparing for the Country’s Disintegration?

0 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Leadership Military Succession
  1. Hypotheses suggest Prigozhin's protector could be Sergey Kiriyenko, Putin himself, or Russian intelligence services, among others
  2. Debate surrounds potential successors to Putin, including technocrats in the Russian bureaucracy and figures like Sergey Kiriyenko and Aleksey Dyumin
  3. Moscow's military reorganization plan has sparked speculation about the country's stability, with concerns of possible disintegration or regional collapse

Russia-Origin MOVEIt Supply Chain Attack May Have Netted US National Security-Sensitive Information

0 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Cybersecurity Espionage Russia US government National Security
  1. The Russia-origin MOVEIt supply chain attack led to breaches in various sectors and even government entities, possibly netting sensitive information such as nuclear waste disposal and research data.
  2. US officials believe the attackers were opportunistic in exploiting vulnerabilities in the MOVEIt tool, but the sophistication and long-term planning of the attack raise suspicions of more than just financial gain.
  3. There is concern that the stolen data could be used for espionage purposes, potentially shared with Russian intelligence services, as seen in previous ransomware breaches involving threats to leak data to military agencies and targeting critical infrastructure aligned with Russian strategic priorities.

Putin: The Spy as Hero

0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Propaganda Espionage Global relations Information Warfare
  1. Putin's admiration of fictional Soviet spy characters like Stierlitz influences his worldview and actions, drawing from the Soviet Union's struggle against Nazism for legitimacy.
  2. Putin's background as a former KGB agent reflects a 'Chekist worldview,' characterized by a perception of enemies, operating in secrecy, and discipline.
  3. Putin employs psychological operations, disinformation, and manipulation to portray the West as deceitful, relying on toxic narratives to divide and distract societies.

Troll Humor

0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Social media influence Information Warfare
  1. Russian troll networks posed as left- and right-wing news sources to deepen social divides in US and Europe using well-documented disinformation tactics.
  2. The NAEBC and PeaceData networks exemplified Russian disinformation strategies like recruiting English-speakers, laundering disinformation, and amplifying both sides of divisive issues.
  3. Russian disinformation campaigns use inside jokes in their network names as a form of taunting, aiming to deceive Western audiences while spreading propaganda.

It's Raining on Putin’s Victory Day Parade

0 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🌍 World Politics Military Cyber Attacks Propaganda Diplomacy International relations
  1. Events in May 2023 show challenges faced by Putin's government, from military setbacks to potential cyber attacks amid subdued Victory Day celebrations.
  2. Putin's need for a victory by May 9 adds pressure on domestic and international fronts, with fears of a civil war among Russian factions.
  3. Cyber attacks could be a tool for Putin to project strength, given historical instances of Russian hackers conducting cyber operations around Victory Day to disrupt adversary countries.