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Pentagon Confirms 2008 Computer Breach — 'Worst Ever'

Posted by timothy on from the ok-ok-uncle-sam dept.

jowifi writes "The New York Times reports that the Pentagon has confirmed that, in 2008, a foreign agent instigated 'the most significant breach of US military computers ever' using a USB flash drive. While the breach was previously reported on Wired and the LA Times, this is the first official confirmation of the attack that led to the banning of USB drives on government computers."

1 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Incredible software developments or hot air? by jordan_robot · · Score: 0, Redundant
    USB ports, how boring... This is what I'm more interested in - FTFA:

    Against the array of threats, Mr. Lynn said, the National Security Agency had pioneered systems — “part sensor, part sentry, part sharpshooter” — that are meant to automatically counter intrusions in real time.

    Sounds almost next gen A.I. ish. If it weren't for the "pioneered" part, I'd just think he was talking about plain jane intruder detection systems.

    Do we think these systems are really as advanced as insinuated? Or is it just puffing up for P.R. & intimidation? If these systems really are that awesome, how long before this tech trickles into the civilian world? Government software engineering can't be outpacing "civilian" efforts by that much, can it? --- Hey, what they hell do I know? I'm just a guy on a couch.