World financial affairs coming to a head ... potentially within weeks

[Jeffrey]

I really can't believe this thread has fallen to the fourth page. It should be a sticky, at least through April.

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Posted by Vivek (here)
About a week ago, on Doug Hagmann's show, financial insider "V" stated that before the first big domino falls (Japan's economy) we would see a massive cyber attack on banks that would effect the world markets.

Here is what he said:

This is all a set up […] Before the big pop happens, you're going to see a massive bank hack […] That hack is going to wipe out a lot of accounts […] and they're going to play it off as some sort of [excuse to enforce?] a capital control.

[...]

Newest Cyberattacks On US Banks Are Destroying Data Rather Than Stealing It

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/cyber...#ixzz2OwX7sHqX

US Banks Hit By Largest Cyber Attack Ever (But Won't Admit It)

Often denial of service attacks "can be a diversion," says Dave Ostertag, a computer security expert and a global investigation manager with Verizon. At the same time, criminals might be trying to extract financial information from a bank using a variety of different techniques, he says.

Read more: http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/53...won-t-admit-it

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
The cyberattacks would thus make sense as an "inside job": scrubbing data, hiding the cyber "paper trail."

Next, we'll hear that ***somehow*** {wink, wink} the data backups failed.

Dennis

Latest ...

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Amex latest U.S. major bank to get knocked offline
Byron Acohido, USA TODAY 11:02a.m. EDT March 29, 2013

SEATTLE – The denial of service attacks that knocked American Express' online banking systems out of service for a few hours on Thursday and Wells Fargo's web sites on Wednesday appeared to be a recurrence of similar attacks that bedeviled several large U.S. banks last fall.

"If you ask the targeted financial institutions, and the customers who cannot access these online services, these attacks are more than a mere nuisance," says Paul Ferguson, vice president of threat intelligence at security firm Internet Identity. "Plus, it is not cheap to try to mitigate these
attacks and try to keep these services running."

Security experts say the American Express caper appears to have been carried out by a group referring to itself as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters, which has previously claimed responsibility for so-called denial-of-service attacks against JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, CitiBank and SunTrust dating back to last September.

Amex spokeswoman Amelia Woltering says the company's online banking services were disrupted for about two hours. "We experienced intermittent slowing on our website that would have disrupted customers' ability to access their account information," Woltering says. "We had a plan in place to defend against a potential attack and have taken steps to minimize ongoing customer impact."

She added that there was "no evidence that customer data was compromised."

The Reuters news service reported that the Wells Fargo attack only affected Wells Fargo's consumer-facing website. In the caper, there was also no evidence any customer data got compromised.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters have claimed to be exacting retribution for a public airing of a video depicting Muhammad as a fraud, a womanizer and a madman reportedly funded by U.S.-based donors.

However, denial of service attacks -- which direct thousands of infected home computers or web servers to send nuisance messages to the targeted web site, thus cutting off access -- have become a tool used by ideologues of many different stripes. A major attack directed at the e-mail spam filtering organization SpamHaus appears to have slowed Internet access slightly across Europe this week.

The Keynote Performance Index, which measures Internet access speed, recorded up to 40% slower than average connection speeds across Europe between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Pacific time on March 26.

"It is possible that the SpamHaus attack could be related to this slowdown but we can't be sure," says Keynote spokeswoman Ann O'Leary. She says video streams of a big soccer match between France and Spain might have also contributed to bogging down the Internet.

The SpamHaus attack has been blamed on Russian spam gangs upset with SpamHaus for blocking spam traffic from a Dutch web hosting company.

The SpamHaus attackers used an unusual technique. They spoofed Spamhaus's IP addresses sending traffic to servers that they knew would respond to this traffic, and these servers dutifully send their responses back to Spamhaus' servers, says David Gibson, vice president of strategy at security firm aronis

"To make matters worse, the responses are much larger, in terms of size, than the stimulus," says Varonis. "This means that for every packet of stimuli, there are many more response packets."

Meanwhile, last week attackers managed to incapacitate 32,000 computers at South Korea's banks and television networks. Authorities are examining North Korea's possible involvement, according to the Globe and Mail.

Because of the Internet's complex interconnections -- and the fact that it is simple for hackers to take control of tens of thousands of Internet-connected machines -- denial of service attack to disrupt or deface corporate and government websites are expected to continue.

"There is no indication that there is an end in sight, unless we can somehow figure out who the real actors are and possibly get them arrested, or somehow figure out some technical way to make it stop," says Ferguson.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2...-hack/2030197/

---------------

See also: The Year of the Hack (2013)

Steve Quayle has also just posted a rather grim warning. I think it is worth noting considering whats been happening lately.

http://www.stevequayle.com/index.php?s=33&d=334

[Marianne]

I just stickied this thread.

[Jeffrey]

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
Has this been posted yet?

So Long, Yankees! China And Brazil Ditch US Dollar In Trade Deal Before BRICS Summit

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/so-long-yanke...summit-1153415

They (BRICS) are making their move(s) it seems.

1. In 2011, China became the world's second largest economy.
   
2. Rosneft is now the largest oil producer in the world (in which China is invested).
   
3. Russian owned OAO Gazprom just agreed to supply China with natural gas, making China the largest importer of Russian gas.
   
4. China and Brazil are now "shifting some trade away from the US dollar" as per their the recent trade deal.
   
5. As of today, Russia and China announced that they are going to begin trading against each other's currencies in the interbank market, further distancing themselves from using the US dollar in international trade.
   
6. A few weeks ago, the HSBC bank announced that it would soon be enacting further measures to push the yuan ahead in it's goal to become the next world reserve currency.
   
7. Russia, South Africa plan OPEC-type cartel for platinum and palladium.
   
8. Russia, China, and India have been buying up massive amounts of gold lately, apparently in anticipation of a global economic shift (/collapse of the US dollar).

The dollar will slowly collapse on it's own bar a trigger event ... such as Japan's economy tanking (or a number of other things). This trigger would collapse the yen. Then possibly the euro, the pound, the dollar -- the worlds largest trading currencies.

Paving the way for ... what? The yuan? The bitcoin?

Wasn't Japan recently set to be the largest foreign holder of US debt? I know they are right up there with China.

I still have a lot to learn here.

*UPDATE/ADD: Australia wants to cut US dollar out of trade deals with China

[PathWalker]

Posted by Vivek (here)
Security experts say the American Express caper appears to have been carried out by a group referring to itself as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters, which has previously claimed responsibility for so-called denial-of-service attacks against JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, CitiBank and SunTrust dating back to last September.

Posted by Vivek (here)
"There is no indication that there is an end in sight, unless we can somehow figure out who the real actors are and possibly get them arrested, or somehow figure out some technical way to make it stop," says Ferguson.

These news are very dangerous for the too big to fail institutes.
If the news get to the public it will undermine the public trust in the financial institutes availability.
Let see how the controlled MSM handles this, if at all.

I have strong indication that this is another move in the financial war, nothing to do with "public" politics.
Surely lots to do with terror/fear mongering.

It is interesting how the wheel comes around the terror tactics come back to the perpetrator.

Is this Karma or what?

[ThePythonicCow]

Posted by Flash (here)
Third, before doing so, you erase money manipulation traces through bank software attacks, so that after a war, nothing is traceable (isn't it what was almost done after ww1, although less successful because not electronic) Destroying data instead of stealing is the major culprit in erasing previous stealiing.

A lot of that happened on 9/11 of 2001 ... key records of major bank fraud investigations were kept in the World Trade Center buildings, and the investigation of the trillions "lost" by the Pentagon kept its records (and key people) in a certain corner of the Pentagon ... guess which corner.

[Jeffrey]

Posted by Paul (here)

Posted by Flash (here)
Third, before doing so, you erase money manipulation traces through bank software attacks, so that after a war, nothing is traceable (isn't it what was almost done after ww1, although less successful because not electronic) Destroying data instead of stealing is the major culprit in erasing previous stealiing.

A lot of that happened on 9/11 of 2001 ... key records of major bank fraud investigations were kept in the World Trade Center buildings, and the investigation of the trillions "lost" by the Pentagon kept its records (and key people) in a certain corner of the Pentagon ... guess which corner.

Out of the entire Pentagon, it wouldn't happen to be that small fraction of the Pentagon right there, would it?

[Jeffrey]

Hey folks, check this one out.

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Bitcoin Exchange Mt. Gox Targeted by Cyber Attack
By Matt Egan | Published March 29, 2013 | FOXBusiness



Just as Bitcoin explodes beyond the $1 billion mark thanks to Europe’s debt crisis, the emerging virtual currency was dealt a setback this week after a key exchange was hit by a powerful cyber attack that caused delays.

Coupled with other recent technical glitches, this week’s distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox cuts into one of the electronic currency’s greatest selling points: its relative safety compared with deposits in Cyprus.

In a message posted on its official Twitter account, Japan-based Mt. Gox told users Thursday night it was “experiencing a major DDoS” attack. Within hours Mt. Gox said the issue had been resolved.

The exchange didn’t respond to a request for further comment on the DDoS attack.

According to the Mt. Gox website, it is the “world’s most established Bitcoin exchange” and the only multi-currency Bitcoin trading platform.

"This attack demonstrates both the worth of Bitcoin and the value of its business availability. Now there are new risks to both,” said Carl Herberger, vice president of security solutions at Radware (RDWR).

Earlier this week payments startup Dwolla, which is also used to trade Bitcoins, suffered from an apparent DDoS attack as well.

Established in 2009, Bitcoin has emerged as a winner in the controversy surrounding Europe’s decision to “bail in” bank depositors in Cyprus to pay for a rescue of the tiny island country’s outsized banking system.

The virtual currency is built on an open-source software code and unlike traditional currencies is highly decentralized, making it appealing to those worried about the safety of the monetary system. Bitcoin also says its accounts can’t be seized by local authorities, setting it apart from bank deposits in Cyprus.

Underscoring the surge of activity in the virtual currency, one Bitcoin traded as high as $93.06 on Friday, up a whopping 125% from the beginning of March. The value of Bitcoins outstanding has also now surpassed the $1 billion threshold.

Bitcoin “is clearly having a breakthrough moment here, and a deeply surprising one given its novelty and nascent infrastructure,” Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at ConvergEx, wrote in a recent note.

However, Bitcoin has also faced technical glitches, including one on March 12 that caused the currency’s value to briefly tumble 23% before recovering.

“Bitcoin is of course wholly dependent upon the functioning of the Internet,” said Daniel Friedberg, a financial-services attorney at Seattle law firm Graham & Dunn who has a Bitcoin client base.

“Users of Bitcoin are not used to any ‘down time’ and have grown accustomed to being able to immediately convert the Bitcoin virtual currency into real legal tender, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any disruption at all creates customer complaints,” he said.

Bitcoin isn’t alone in grappling with cyber attacks. Hacktivists have increasingly set their sets on the U.S. financial system, slowing access to the websites of big banks like J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC) in recent months.

Earlier this week Wells Fargo (WFC), the largest U.S. bank by market capitalization, acknowledged its consumer banking website was the victim of a DDoS attack.

Source: http://www.foxbusiness.com/technolog...-cyber-attack/

[Limor Wolf]

What is going on here seems like a fascinating ping pong game, the spectators are moving their gaze from left to right and back again in anticipation.

History shows again and again that those who are pulling the strings are always invested in both sides, whether the 'victim' is politics, wars, conflicts and so on, it might be quite reasonable to assume then that economy, which is their own exclusive invention is part of this same dish. Therefore, the wise thing to do, may be, to take one step backwards and not be that (mentally) invested in the game. Much like when reviewing US elections, It's worth taking a distant vantage point which is a lot more based on the broader perspective than the macro. Yes, the details and conequences will have great impact on our lives, but now it is time to leave the failing systems which are based on forgery and get ourselves acquainted with the real economy of the world which is FREE ENERGY. Not the oily one, not the financial one, but the one which is free for everyone to use. with our intentions and focus we will be able to overcome this breaking of the old systems, dependent on how much we are emotionally invested in this ping pong game. Let's watch the game, but let's not invest ourselves in it, is my advice. The winners will be losers and the losers will be winners, and while our gaze is directed only to what happens in the ring, we may be missing the new ideas that can establish and replace the old and failing systems. I would like to see a think tank which is much more focused on that in the alternative financial media. free thinking and free energy and being creative is the real economy, from there new things may grow.

My 2cent
(or maybe just a free format thinking)

[kanishk]

Posted by Vivek (here)

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
Has this been posted yet?

So Long, Yankees! China And Brazil Ditch US Dollar In Trade Deal Before BRICS Summit

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/so-long-yanke...summit-1153415

They (BRICS) are making their move(s) it seems.

1. In 2011, China became the world's second largest economy.
   
2. Rosneft is now the largest oil producer in the world (in which China is invested).
   
3. Russian owned OAO Gazprom just agreed to supply China with natural gas, making China the largest importer of Russian gas.
   
4. China and Brazil are now "shifting some trade away from the US dollar" as per their the recent trade deal.
   
5. As of today, Russia and China announced that they are going to begin trading against each other's currencies in the interbank market, further distancing themselves from using the US dollar in international trade.
   
6. A few weeks ago, the HSBC bank announced that it would soon be enacting further measures to push the yuan ahead in it's goal to become the next world reserve currency.
   
7. Russia, China, and India have been buying up massive amounts of gold lately, apparently in anticipation of a global economic shift (/collapse of the US dollar).

The dollar will slowly collapse on it's own bar a trigger event ... such as Japan's economy tanking (or a number of other things). This trigger would collapse the yen. Then possibly the euro, the pound, the dollar -- the worlds largest trading currencies.

Paving the way for ... what? The yuan? The bitcoin?

Wasn't Japan recently set to be the largest foreign holder of US debt? I know they are right up there with China.

I still have a lot to learn here.

I want to know,

Then price of GOLD and SILVER in BRICS countries will increase in relation to other commodities (means will it be good for them to invest in these precious metals)?

Or just the Purchasing Power Parity PPP of the currencies of BRICS countries will increase in relation to the other currencies?

[Jeffrey]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TZeClrqgMDM

[PathWalker]

Posted by Vivek (here)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TZeClrqgMDM

1. RT is the voice of the Russian government read this thread. Who is Russia Today (RT) And Should We Care?
2. The speakers are not just informative they have an apparent agenda.

[Jeffrey]

I don't think you watched the video, because you posted a response 10 minutes after the video was posted and it's over 20 minutes long.

It's an informative video that hopefully will spark an interest to dig further into the actual topic.

I think most news stations have an agenda, that's why it's up to the viewer to follow-up with a little bit of investigation.

--------------------



Currency Wars: ‘Race to Debase’ spurs central banks’ gold-buying spree

China 'fully prepared' for currency war

China's Gold Reserves: Watch What They Do, Not What They Say

Russian gold/fx reserves rise to $522.4 billion

[PathWalker]

Posted by Vivek (here)
I don't think you watched the video, because you posted a response 10 minutes after the video was posted and it's over 20 minutes long.

1. Usually I do not watch, I listen.
2. I just completed glistening to the whole interview. Including the last part about the Chines currency war.
3. I respect and promote the views delivered.
4. Yet I am aware the information is biased and filled with hidden interests (actually all published information).

[ThePythonicCow]

Posted by Vivek (here)
Max Kieser ...

Max quotes Jim Rickards as saying that gold will go to $10,000/ounce.

May I suggest that's not the best way to express this.

I would suggest that the US Dollar will go to 1/10,000-th of one ounce of gold .

[ThePythonicCow]

Posted by PathWalker (here)

Posted by Vivek (here)
I don't think you watched the video, because you posted a response 10 minutes after the video was posted and it's over 20 minutes long.

I just completed glistening to the whole interview. Including the last part about the China's currency war.

But was Vivek right, in that you had not listened when you first posted, slamming RT, with comments little related to the substance of the video?

[Jeffrey]

From what I've read and how it's looking the more I dig:

China isn't being truthful about how much gold they actually have. Trends projected them as having amassed at least 2,000 tons, if not double that. Yet, they recently stated that their reserves haven't changed much the last few years. This is difficult to accept.

Their goal is to reach 10,000 tons in order to better position the yuan as the new world reserve currency.

Apparently, if they told the world that they had doubled their reserves, then gold prices would have shot up like they did the last time such an announcement was made. They would have effectively shot themselves in the foot. They don't want gold prices to go up until they've met their mark. Russia might be smudging their numbers too.

Also, Wilcock says they have millions of tons!

Either way, I definitely think they have more than they say they do.

... financial warfare. It's all part of some strategy.

[Jeffrey]

-------

Good compilation here...

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=lVqAIPPjN6c

[Jeffrey]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=JqD3funyr_M

Really good summation pertaining to recent events.

[GlassSteagallfan]

Latest from Jim Willie:

This is a 50 minute interview that is well worth listening to.

What will the Russians do for retaliation against the EU for trying to steal their money?
How are Russia and China working together?
The future of the EU?
The Iceland solution
The gold and silver prices and what they premiums are in reality in other countries?
The dollar and U.S. becoming 'Third World'.
The Eurasian Trade groups.
China and Africa
All of the above plus more discussed in the interview. (audio only)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=P5OBHqQkiAI

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P5OBH...layer_embedded

[kanishk]

Somebody has animated what will happen 12 hours after US dollar collapse. Video uploaded 1 year ago.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=t6SmRz3y4ps

In this video with someone used clips from GI Joe to show how first Gold standard is established and then again it will be converted into the same debt dependent currency system and the single currency for whole world.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=l7_4phuurzk

'U.S. Threatens To Punish India With Sanctions For Ignoring Iran Oil Embargo Call'
Then India responds that it will use Gold to buy Oil from Iran

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=I7u6NLT6SMw

CHINA beats U.S. becomes Worlds Biggest Trader - RUSSIA Becomes Biggest Buyer of GOLD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiIYzNE-Qb4

From last 2-3 years Gold loan is advertised too much in India(Mannapurna Gold loan). So the gold loan is very easiest one to get.

From YouTube video in Hindi Ways to use Gold lying in India https://youtube.com/watch?v=uNK5oUIHD7U
Suggestion by Committee of Reserve Bank of India on Gold

• Gold import duty is increased to 6% from 4%,
• To import huge quantity of gold and their should be an export agreement too,
• To extract Gold from households, gold bank will be created,
• Gold in MFs and ETFs should be utilized,
• If required gold imports limits of banks can be decreased,
• No loan will be given to banks to import gold,
• Gold related Financial Products giving good returns should come,
• Schemes like Inflation Index Bond, Gold Accumulation scheme,
• Request for Gold pension products and gold linked account,
• Tax benefit on products that will decrease the demand of gold,
• Suggestion to promote gold loan through banks,
• Unlimited loan on Gold Jewellery and Coins..

India to consider gold import restrictions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8IuW773z-A

No global currency war yet: Indian finance minister ??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmIZcxYcExY