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Sophisticated, Targeted Breakins Uncovered

Posted by kdawson on from the don't-answer-job-ads dept.

Ichabod writes "Sophisticated computer criminals stole data from Unisys, Booz Allen, L-3 Communications, Hewlett Packard, and Hughes Network Systems. It sounds like they used a combination of social hacking and undetected low-profile malware (reportedly NTOS.exe) to steal and encrypt sensitive data, and compromised Yahoo accounts to store and retrieve it. An international investigation appears imminent. And yes, unfortunately Reuters calls the criminals 'hackers,' further besmirching the once-revered title."

6 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. The only thing I find strange.. by i8myh8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..is that they'd use Yahoo! Mail to retrieve the data. Gmail offers more space. Hrm. Poorly researched.

  2. DoT is on the list.. by dotpavan · · Score: 3, Funny

    and "A Department of Transportation spokeswoman said the agency couldn't find any indication of a security breach." awesome!

  3. "to steal and encrypt sensitive data" by InvisblePinkUnicorn · · Score: 5, Funny

    See, hackers get a bad rap. These folks were kind enough to encrypt the sensitive data they found, so that no outside parties could get a look at personal records.

  4. Everybody's happy! by ingo23 · · Score: 3, Funny
    From the article:

    A Department of Transportation spokeswoman said the agency couldn't find any indication of a security breach.

    See, it's a win-win situation - the criminals did everything smoothly without leaving a trace, and at DoT it looks like nothing happened!

  5. Re:No, it was never that way by fenodyree · · Score: 3, Funny

    Asshats!

    Now there is a title. Hackers gone, White Hat never made it. Enter Asshat.
    Today I asshatted a Big Corp's main server, so I emailed their admin to fix the hole. I am such an Asshat.

  6. Re:Give it up by Jack+Pallance · · Score: 4, Funny
    I guess you could say, this issue needs more than a "Band-Aid" for a solution.

    Get it?

    Band-Aid!!

    (OK, It was a term that used to be used exclusively to mean a specific brand, but has now changed its meaning over time to mean something broader. I don't know why I even try with you people...)