Pentagon admits suffering major cyber attack

[Hottentot]

Ouch? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14157975) :dead:

In a speech at National Defense University in Washington, Mr Lynn said about 24,000 files containing Pentagon data were stolen from a defence industry computer network in March, marking one of the largest cyber attacks in US history.

Sounds pretty impressive to my commoner ears. They are probably on the right track with their current theory: doesn't seem like something a random script kid would do (though could of course try).

[razark]

Did anybody there happen to find a USB drive in the parking lot?

[Stealhead]

No this time it was made of rice paper so that once used it could be ingested by the user a new tactic developed after the discovery that the US government is now on the alert for employees placing strange USB drives into vital computers.

It had a note attached for the person who found it which read:

"Hello!! I am a highly trust worthy USB drive please insert me into the most vital computer at your secure facility as a reward when you remove me form the PC I am edible and will taste like Twinkies.Do not attempt to eat me before hand though or I will taste like chopped liver and peas."

[MothBalls]

Maybe this is why the Pentagon made this statement a few months ago:

Pentagon: All options on table in cyber-attack
May 31, 2011

The Pentagon said Tuesday that it would consider all options if the United States were hit by a cyber-attack as it develops the first military guidelines for the age of Internet warfare.

President Barack Obama's administration has been formalizing rules on cyberspace amid growing concern about the reach of hackers. Major defense contractor Lockheed Martin said it repelled a major cyber-assault a week ago.

The White House on May 16 unveiled an international strategy on cyber-security which said the United States "will respond to hostile acts in cyberspace as we would to any other threat to our country."

"We reserve the right to use all necessary means -- diplomatic, informational, military, and economic -- as appropriate and consistent with applicable international law, in order to defend our nation, our allies, our partners and our interests," the strategy said.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said Tuesday that the White House policy did not rule out a military response to a cyber-attack.

"A response to a cyber incident or attack on the US would not necessarily be a cyber response," Lapan told reporters. "All appropriate options would be on the table if we were attacked, be it cyber."

Maybe they were telling someone to knock it off or else..... Since America always seems to keep an enemy on the horizon and in the crosshairs [Iran, North Korea, etc.] maybe this will give us our next excuse to keep our beans and bullets industries busy, so the economy doesn't collapse.


http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/pentagon-all-options-on-table-in-cyberattack-20110531-1fes9.html