UK MoD accidentally sends classified emails meant for US (.mil) to Mali (.ml)

TillE 2 years ago |

> emails containing classified information

It's incredibly embarrassing if they're not using any kind of encryption for this.

tedunangst 2 years ago |

Why is classified info allowed on an internet connected computer in the first place?

whycome 2 years ago |

Well maybe the USA shouldn't get those top level TLDs? (Eg .gov or .mil or .edu). What's wrong with them having to use a second level domain like ".us.gov"?

NoZebra120vClip 2 years ago | |

It's been this way for 40 years. Are you a taxpayer? I'd rather not pay for any such retrofit. Furthermore, what makes you think that typos won't be made with any different domain name? Why would a fake hypothetical improvement of the situation drive a massive rewrite of millions of lines of code, server configurations, TLS certificates, specification documents...?

orra 2 years ago | | |

You're vastly exaggerating the costs of changing domains (and setting up a redirect).

I'm glad you mention TLS certificate, because those are an ongoing thing, not something you set up once leave unchanged for 40 years.

NoZebra120vClip 2 years ago | | |

You can't set up a redirect, because if you leave a redirect in place, then people can send email to the original domain, and we're back where we started with the Mali misdirections. That's what the article is about.

orra 2 years ago | | |

True, but to avoid chaos you have a redirect for a while. Send a warning at first, then send an error.

NoZebra120vClip 2 years ago | | |

This is the US Military we're talking about. Have you ever tried to enter an Air Force base without ID and clearance?

You know what comes after a warning.

paradaux 2 years ago | | |

I'm pretty sure the GP's point was that the US shouldn't have .gov/.mil etc, every country essentially has a form of government and military — And besides .gov.us would be more explicit.

NoZebra120vClip 2 years ago | | |

Inventors' privilege.

lockhouse 2 years ago | |

The USA gets those top level TLDs because that's who created the Internet in the first place. It's an outgrowth of a US military project called ARPANET.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

N19PEDL2 2 years ago | |

This was discussed just a few days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36836843