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Aurora Attackers Were Looking For Google's Surveillance Database

An anonymous reader writes "When in early 2010 Google shared with the public that they had been breached in what became known as the Aurora attacks, they said that the attackers got their hands on some source code and were looking to access Gmail accounts of Tibetan activists. What they didn't make public is that the hackers have also accessed a database containing information about court-issued surveillance orders that enabled law enforcement agencies to monitor email accounts belonging to diplomats, suspected spies and terrorists. Whether this was the primary goal of the attacks as well as how much information was exfiltrated is unknown. current and former U.S. government officials interviewed by the Washington Post say that the database in question was possibly accessed in order to discover which Chinese intelligence operatives located in the U.S. were under surveillance."

6 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. First HOSTS! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Should have used a HOSTS file for better security.

  2. Re:Helpful hint. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Helpful hint.
    If you are in the spy or terror business, and u use email to communicate, u should look for another line of work.

    -HasHie @ trypnet.net

  3. Re:Google, Big Brother's Helper ? by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Funny

    .. and anybody else, as long as the authority can label them "potential threats"

    "Diplomats" is a clearly defined set. The set "suspected spies and terrorists" already contains everybody.

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  4. Re:Helpful hint. by ebno-10db · · Score: 4, Funny

    Steganography plus photos of the "kids".

    Another approach is plain text that's so blatant the eavesdropper will assume no one would be stupid enough to send it seriously. For example: kill moose and squirrel.

  5. Re:Helpful hint. by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unless the eavesdropper is Rocky or Bullwinkle.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  6. Re:Google, Big Brother's Helper ? by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 4, Funny

    Welcome to 1984, man !!

    If I don't get my 1984 body back then I'm not buying in...

    --
    You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office