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Symantec Admits Its Networks Were Hacked in 2006

Posted by Soulskill on from the timely-disclosure dept.

Orome1 writes "After having first claimed that the source code leaked by Indian hacking group Dharmaraja was not stolen through a breach of its networks, but possibly by compromising the networks of a third-party entity, Symantec backpedalled and announced that the code seems to have exfiltrated during a 2006 breach of its systems. Symantec spokesman Cris Paden has confirmed that unknown hackers have managed to get their hands on the source code to the following Symantec solutions: Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition, Norton Internet Security, Norton Utilities, Norton GoBack and pcAnywhere."

7 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Surely this is a good thing... by el3mentary · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Surely this is a good thing, the hackers might release an anti-virus for Norton

    --
    I reject your reality and substitute my own.
    1. Re:Surely this is a good thing... by Krneki · · Score: 5, Funny

      They tried, but apparently removing norton proved to be too difficult.

      --
      Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
  2. Obviously, I'm going to have to switch to McAfee by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    That'll be a lot better, right?

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  3. "exfiltrated" by Baloroth · · Score: 5, Funny

    the code seems to have exfiltrated

    Wow, must be bad working at Symantec. Even the code wants to escape.

    --
    "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
  4. I KNEW IT! by SoTerrified · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Was working with a company that was dealing with some security issues in late 2008, and we found out that the source of the breach was going right through Norton like a hot knife through butter. However, just about any other security solution would stop it. At that time, we theorized that whoever had created the problem had some intimate/inside knowledge of Norton systems and we even joked that "Symantec better check who has their source code".

  5. Re:Thanks a bunch by rickb928 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How they use their signatures and heuristics to detect threats is of great use to attackers. Thinking otherwise is naive.

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    deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
  6. Re:Thanks a bunch by operagost · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm glad you aren't a physician.

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    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.