State Department Hit With Many More Break-Ins

adjust28 writes to tell us CNN is reporting that the US State Department has been dealing with a number of computer break-ins with regards to their headquarters and offices dealing with China and Korea over the past couple of weeks. From the article: "Investigators believe hackers stole sensitive U.S. information and passwords and implanted backdoors in unclassified government computers to allow them to return at will, said U.S. officials familiar with the hacking."

Hacking: an offensive weapon

[jdbartlett]

The Pentagon warned earlier this year that China's army is emphasizing hacking as an offensive weapon. It cited Chinese military exercises in 2005 that included hacking "primarily in first strikes against enemy networks."

Of course, that's what the bayonet is for!

What about MySpace?

[Ohreally_factor]

This could put the State Department ahead of MySpace as the #1 destination site.

Outsourcing

[Umbral Blot]

Maybe they shouldn't have been outsourcing. (that's a joke people)

Just what we need

[Anonymous Coward]

Great now they'll get buried in viagra ads. Guys they aren't trying to steal secrets they just wanted your security down so they can sell you dick pills and cheap pirate software. Oh and by the way that nice guy in Nigeria wants to take money out of your account not put it in.

Re:Ask Slashdot: Why do gov't 'puters have net acc

[jdbartlett]

Joke answer: because they invented it! [wikipedia.org]

Re:Ask Slashdot: Why do gov't 'puters have net acc

[jdbartlett]

Because they're on the green.

For a bunker shot, they'd use a sand wedge.

Mental note . . .

[bblboy54]

After the State Department break-ins, many employees were instructed to change their passwords.

The root password is now "god" instead of "sex"

Geek trivia for 10 thanks...

[overbaud]

The password for the defense department computers in question was 'Joshua'.

If you don't get this your not geek enough, hang your head in shame.

Dept. of Homeland and FBI security priorities.

[Anonymous Coward]

I submitted what I could. I didn't even gt a "thank you" email. I would have been happy with a "thank you" message. But I got nothing.

My opinion of the dept of Homeland Security as well as the FBI sank immeasurabily as a result.

Your error was that you failed to realize what the priorities of these agencies are. Report the incident again only this time put the words 'terrorist' and 'activity' in the subject line. Wait an hour and then turn on the TV, switch to a news channel and you should hear reports of massive USAF airstrikes somewhere in Romania. For shorter response times try adding the word 'Osama' to the subject line. Just be careful when using the words 'bin' and 'Laden' since combining those with the other three in one subject line might lead to a tactical nuclear strike.

ignorant comment

[freaker_TuC]

Nothing news about this; this is a dupe [slashdot.org]; there was already an article before of the US being the #1 destination for Internet traffic.

Re:The horse has bolted

[stunt_penguin]

It would seem that unfortunately this particular horse has managed to build himself a back door as well, unfortunately.

U.S. Hacking Officials?

[NorthwestWolf]

"said U.S. officials familiar with the hacking"

When did they hire anyone like that? I call their bluff!

Perhaps they hired some first-rate plumbers - they know how to "hack" into tubes.

Re:Geek trivia for 10 thanks...

[MK_CSGuy]

Oh... So North Korea didn't really fire those missiles?

Re:U.S. Hacking Officials?

[1u3hr]

Perhaps they hired some first-rate plumbers - they know how to "hack" into tubes.

Didn't work out so well for Nixon.