USA: Pentagon & Dept. of Homeland Security hacked

[Rat]

News from New Scientist:

* 15:08 22 June 2007
* NewScientist.com news service
* New Scientist Technology and AFP

A computer hacker penetrated the Pentagon's email system on Thursday, prompting authorities to take up to 1500 accounts offline, defence officials reveal.

"Elements of the [Office of the Secretary of Defense's] unclassified email system were taken offline yesterday afternoon due to a detected penetration," US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. "A variety of precautionary measures are being taken. We expect the system to be online again very soon."

On 20 June, a congressional panel disclosed that hackers have also succeeded in penetrating computers at the Department of Homeland Security, the government agency charged with providing security against cyber attack.

"What does this mean? It means terrorists or nation states could be hacking Department of Homeland Security databases, changing or altering names to allow them access to this country, and we wouldn't even know they were doing it," says Democratic congressman James Langevin.

[battye]

Sure, it seems that it was only emails that got penetrated. But still, it means there are holes in the system... unless of course someone used a dead easy password on their email account!