Cyber attacks cripple Internet in Myanmar

YANGON - Internet services in Myanmar have been shut down by cyber attacks, days before a landmark election on Sunday, sparking fears of a communication outage during the polls.

News websites reported that Myanmar's Internet system had been flooded by a series of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, crippling network traffic.

Myanmar's Internet servers usually handle 100Mbps of data a day but the DDoS attacks have hit Internet service providers with more than 100 times the usual amount of traffic. Widespread Internet outages and slowdowns have been occurring since Oct 25, the Myanmar Times reported this week.

Rights groups had said that the junta was attempting to slow the Internet connection.

The junta reportedly blocked all websites and services during a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests in 2007, as bloggers posted pictures and videos of the protests.

Meanwhile, an exile news agency said six armed ethnic groups in Myanmar have forged an agreement to join forces. The reported alliance comes amid fears that war could break out between the government and several ethnic groups who have denounced the elections.

The India-based Mizzima agency said yesterday that the "landmark deal" was struck on Tuesday in the Thai town of Mae Hong Son and included the most powerful ethnic armies from the Karen, Karenni, Chin, Kachin, Mon and Shan minorities. Agencies

Source:http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC101105-0000084/Cyber-attacks-cripple-Internet-in-Myanmar

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