GregDec 19, 2022
Dan Gillmor
Hypothesis (unlikely): Musk is pushing so many people to create Mastodon accounts that the communities/servers here will be overloaded, thereby creating a retreat to the "reliability" of the centralized service. More-evil hypothesis would have his friends overseas (in Russia, China, e.g.) launch DOS attacks against major Mastodon instances, for same purpose.
Dec 19, 2022 at 12:00amWeb
Show threadBill AllisonDec 19, 2022
Interesting-- and even if the Musk part of your hypothesis is unlikely, the prospect of various types of attacks seem very likely (attacking ALL the small and the large instances b/c why not, w/ automation?)

I am glad to see so many infosec people on here!
Show threadChaoddityDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor its not that complex.
Elon demands attention. He has always had a need for public praise and attention. The far right viewed him as a symbol of hope- to avenge trumps ouster and to regain lost power. Look who he is constantly talking to and getting feedback from- fascists like “the quartering” and “miles cheong”. Its why he reinstated trump as practically a first act and also why he banned that one journalist the other day
Show threadTim PalmerDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor
Yeah, I had that thought as well. But I always have Oliver Willis in my ear saying “no, he’s really just an idiot!”
Show threadJeff ShengDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor giving Space Karen a bit too much credit here… it’s just an impulsive d* swinging contest for him against #JohnMastodon right now.
Show threadtreeDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor apparently attacks are already taking place https://newsie.social/@jeff/109472272956314954
Jeff (@[email protected])

Several Mastodon instances (including Newsie) have come under cyber-attack recently by state-level actors. If you are the admin of a Mastodon Instance that overlaps arts, human rights, civil society, journalism, or democracy and would like FREE cyber security protection from Cloudflare as part of Project Galileo please reach out as Fourth Estate is a long-time Project Galileo partner See: https://www.cloudflare.com/galileo/ #mastoadmin #mastodon

Newsie Social
Show threadbrooklynmarieDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor Why unlikely, in the age of reflexive control?
Show threadJohn PanzerDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor I think the ending to Glass Onion is super apropos right now, recommend seeing it if you haven’t yet.
Show threadGuillaume LaurentDec 19, 2022
@dangillmor very unlikely, so far all his actions indicate knee-jerk-type behavior, with no planning abilities at all.