The Internet Shutdown Game

https://shutdowngame.apc.org/

by pabs3 • 3 years ago

65 29 3 years ago

shutdowngame.apc.org

renegat0x02• 3 years ago

Nothing seems more legit than a zip file from a random site. I am grateful that it did not contain any executable file, but I think pdf files also can spread viruses.

foobarbecue2• 3 years ago

You're complaining that the file is compressed...? You don't trust your unzip software?

How would you prefer they distribute the files?

spacebacon• 3 years ago

Carrier pigeons at this point. He’s right you know.

renegat0x02• 3 years ago

There seems to be no need for ZIP. There seems to be no need for PDFs in it. Everything that is in PDF most likely could be presented by webpage/HTML/etc. Therefore yes, I complain that the files are compressed.

The need of downloading anything might be the point of that game, but people spreading viruses also like playing that way.

ElectricalUnion3• 3 years ago

A random site with "just html" has the possibility as well to "spread viruses" with a unknown zero-day with for example a image handling exploit, or a novel sort of ram rewriting attack.

If you really care about "casual usability of things that can spread viruses" in your security model, you would actually prefer documents in PDF format and running them thru Qubes sanitizing conversion appvm.

kevincox• 3 years ago

Both Chromium and Firefox also have built-in PDF readers that run in the browser sandbox so you can read PDFs with no more attack surface than the webpage that you downloaded them from has access to. Of course a separate VM is going to be even more secure but it is a much bigger step for the average user.

autoexec• 3 years ago

A random site with "just html" has the possibility as well to "spread viruses" with a unknown zero-day with for example a image handling exploit, or a novel sort of ram rewriting attack.

Technically possible, but the vast majority of sites that can get you infected just by viewing them depend on JS. I'd much sooner trust an HTML document than a PDF file from some random website.

diyseguy• 3 years ago

I always run any zip/pdf file through https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload

ChrisArchitect• 3 years ago

APC? I thought maybe this was presented by the backup power/UPS company. Not the Association for Progressive Communications.

myself248• 3 years ago

Clearly the situation can be resolved by throwing Armored Personnel Carriers at it.

hejira2• 3 years ago

Haha, my thoughts too! :D

ale42• 3 years ago

Lol, didn't know the latter, I though too it was APC (the UPS company) and that shutdowns were about power outages and how they relate to UPSs...

HenryBemis• 3 years ago

To those worried, I can suggest www.virustotal.com

When I download a file of uncertain origin/quality I always upload it there and rest (relatively) easy on what's in it.

Kwpolska• 3 years ago

Sounds like a very slow and boring game. See a scenario of some Internet blocking, discuss for 10 minutes within teams, pick 1 out of 8 cards that can circumvent the block.

helios_invictus• 3 years ago

I play tested this at the Global Gathering in Portugal earlier this year! This little IRL group game is super cool way to learn about Internet shutdowns and how to work around them! Pushing all the poo-pooing aside this game was actually really fun, and a delightful educational game! It's a great way to talk about Internet shutdowns and circumventions with most people. Also the crew that put it together put in some very solid work to make this a smooth educational tool. Please don't be negative because the delivery method doesn't check all your boxes.

hejira2• 3 years ago

Thanks for a more contructive comment than most!

zug_zug• 3 years ago

Would love a few sentence overview of the shutdown techniques and the workarounds

The Internet Shutdown Game

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