Hackers breach US defense contractors network

[alizahid]

Updated at: 0704 PST, Saturday, May 28, 2011
Hackers breach US defense contractors network LONDON: Unknown hackers have broken into the security networks of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and several other US military contractors, a source with direct knowledge of the attacks told this news agency.

They breached security systems designed to keep out intruders by creating duplicates to "SecurID" electronic keys from EMC Corp's (EMC.N) RSA security division, said the person who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

It was not immediately clear what kind of data, if any, was stolen by the hackers. But the networks of Lockheed and other military contractors contain sensitive data on future weapons systems as well as military technology currently used in battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Weapons makers are the latest companies to be breached through sophisticated attacks that have pierced the defenses of huge corporations including Sony (SNE.N), Google Inc (GOOG.O) and EMC Corp (EMC.N). Security experts say that it is virtually impossible for any company or government agency to build a security network that hackers will be unable to penetrate.

The Pentagon, which has about 85,000 military personnel and civilians working on cyber security issues worldwide, said it also uses a limited number of the RSA electronic security keys, but declined to say how many for security reasons.

The hackers learned how to copy the security keys with data stolen from RSA during a sophisticated attack that EMC disclosed in March, according to the source.

EMC declined to comment on the matter, as did executives at major defense contractors.

Lockheed, which employs 126,000 people worldwide and had $45.8 billion in revenue last year, said it does not discuss specific threats or responses as a matter of principle, but regularly took actions to counter threats and ensure security. (Reuters)

 

[somebozo]

USa has spread the internet world wide but did not think about another parallel network specifically targeted for defense need and contractor?

 

[alizahid]

USa has spread the internet world wide but did not think about another parallel network specifically targeted for defense need and contractor?

i think they have thought about it but like the article points out "Security experts say that it is virtually impossible for any company or government agency to build a security network that hackers will be unable to penetrate." the technology keeps changing and people find new ways to counter it. Piracy of dvd's / games and software is a simple example of this.

What i am interested in knowing is who did it and why??

 

[Thomas]

i think they have thought about it but like the article points out "Security experts say that it is virtually impossible for any company or government agency to build a security network that hackers will be unable to penetrate." the technology keeps changing and people find new ways to counter it. Piracy of dvd's / games and software is a simple example of this.

What i am interested in knowing is who did it and why??

Any highly classified data is stored on networks not connected to the outside world. It would have to be breached from the inside by a living person.

 

[alizahid]

Lockheed Martin confirms attack on its IT network
Updated at: 1142 PST, Sunday, May 29, 2011
WASHINGTON: US defense contractor Lockheed Martin confirmed late Saturday that it had detected "a significant and tenacious" attack on its information systems network.

"Lockheed Martin detected a significant and tenacious attack on its information systems network," said a company statement.

The company's information security team detected the attack almost immediately and took what is described as "aggressive actions" to protect all systems and data, the statement added.

"As a result of the swift and deliberate actions taken to protect the network and increase IT security, our systems remain secure," Lockheed Martin said.

"No customer, program or employee personal data has been compromised." (AFP)

 

[Splurgenxs]

Hmm Hackers are getting Bolder by the day...Anonymous has a lot of Notoriety and i wouldn't be surprised if some from that group had a hand in it ..but still is a far cry as to explain who did it or y such a risky operation was brought to fruition.

They breached security systems designed to keep out intruders by creating duplicates to "SecurID" electronic keys from EMC Corp's (EMC.N) RSA security division, said the person who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

^^Well an Insider leak is almost a certainty...Theft is unlikely as if reported the Encryption Algo gets modified.