Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Had 'Forbidden' Internet Connection At the Pentagon, Says Report (businessinsider.com)

According to The New Yorker, President-elect Donald Trump's national security advisor, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, installed a secret internet connection into his office at the Pentagon even though it was "forbidden." Business Insider reports: The network connection was among other rules the former chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency broke because he found them to be "stupid," including sometimes sneaking out of a CIA station in Iraq without authorization and sharing classified information with NATO allies without approval, according to The New Yorker. While Flynn -- who was recently tapped to be President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser -- apparently had his own private connection, the New Yorker profile doesn't provide a clear picture as to why. It's likely his Pentagon office already had an authorized, unclassified connection to the internet called NIPRNet, which is separate from classified networks such as SIPRNet and JWICS, a former DIA analyst told Business Insider. All of those networks are monitored in some way. A separate, unknown network would not have had the same -- or possibly any -- level of monitoring. If it were implemented in secret, it would also not have the same protections from hackers that a known connection would have. It's also possible that Flynn's Pentagon office was known as a SCIF, or sensitive compartmented information facility -- a secure facility in which intelligence can be discussed without fear of it being compromised. Network connections in SCIFs are closely controlled, and outside electronics such as mobile phones are not allowed inside.

Comments

Nice to see we'll be in better hands

[Anonymous Coward]

We sure can trust this choice better than the one Ms. Clinton would have made.

BTW, I have some bridges for sale...

Re:Nice to see we'll be in better hands

[footNipple]

I see that Putin's trolls have made it out again for this story.

And I'm done Putin up with the likes of you!

Re:Nice to see we'll be in better hands

[Mister Transistor]

There ya go, Russian to judgement...

Re:Nobody noticed...

[TechyImmigrant]

Seriously? He had a non-DoD internet connection installed in his office at The Pentagon, and nobody noticed.

What happened? Some guy in a Comcast van showed up to do the install and security just waved them on thru to do whatever they felt like?

No chance. The comcast guy would install the connection point on the far side of the building from his office and he'd have to buy an extra long ethernet cable and string it through doors or over the roof.