DoD Networks Completely Compromised, Experts Say

AZA43 writes "A group of U.S. federal cybersecurity experts recently said the Defense Department's network is totally compromised by foreign spies. The experts suggest the agency simply accept that its networks are compromised and will probably remain that way, then come up with a way to protect data on infected machines and networks."

Comments

cut the wire

[the_Bionic_lemming]

Why does the network have to be accessible remotely? It should be isolated and need a meat sack to get the information from the system and relay it to the party that needs the information. Same thing with public utilities and such - why is it wired so that someone remote can tap a few buttons and remotely access controls for water plants?

Re:cut the wire

[Whorhay]

From what I've heard that's mostly true. There are a number of 3 letter agencies that have been known to be so egotistical as to believe they are above the air gap requirements and actually run machines that cross that gap.

Besides which an air gap is not as full proof as one might think. Just look at what stuxnet managed to do to the Iranians nuclear program. And it would only take a single compromised person on whatever air gapped network to gather the datadumps and send them back to whatever party they work for. Off the top of my head I can think of at least one publisized account of malware being found on an airgapped system that seemingly couldn't be removed.

Whatever your technical measures and implementations, your security is always limited by the personnel using it. What percentage of people with clearances and access are turnable? It's impossible that it'd be zero, and even at a tenth of a percent it'd mean hundreds or thousands of compromised people and consequentially the networks they have access to.

All this ignores that classified information is often derivable from other non-classified sources.

Re:The problem with the DOD

[Whorhay]

While I agree that I'd like to see the DoD move to more secure technical solutions, I don't think it'd solve the security problem. Like you pointed out the system is only as good as the people that are using it. And even with a very small percentage of people willing to spy it'd be almost trivial for a foreign government to buy their way into almost any system.

Prior to 2001 everything was more compartmentalized, which was good for Information Security's sake. But it proved to be bad for our national safety as the CIA wouldn't pass on information about a potential threat to the FBI for what amounts to dick measuring reasons. In the aftermath of 9/11 the policies swung the other way and we end up with Bradley Manning having access to way more information than he needed for his job.

A proper solution is a multi faceted problem. We need technical systems that are secure and yet still useable by a barely trained 18 to 50 year old volunteer. We need systems designed to be as secure as possible but still interface with each other and work in a timely manner. We need people that are as immune to corruption and insanity as possible. And the hardest part is probably sticking to fights and engagements that don't force those people to question the morality of the job they are tasked with doing.