[Infowarrior] - Hacker penetrates Pentagon email system

[Richard Forno]

Hacker penetrates Pentagon email system

June 22, 2007 - 4:37AM

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technology/Hacker-penetrates-Pentagon-email-syste
m/2007/06/22/1182019305007.html

A hacker penetrated an unclassified Pentagon email system, prompting
authorities to take as many 1,500 accounts off-line, defense officials said
Thursday.

"All precautionary measures are being taken and we expect this system to be
on-line again very soon," said Colonel Gary Keck, a Pentagon spokesman.

He said the penetration was detected Wednesday in the unclassified email
system of the office of the secretary of defense, which employs thousands of
people.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 users of the system were taken off-line, a defense
official said.

The system carries "routine email" involving administrative manners but not
classified information related to military operations, Keck said.

He would not comment on the source of the attack, or whether the hacker was
able to read email sent over the system.

"The department has redundant systems in place and there is no anticipated
adverse impact to ongoing operations," he said.

"The department aggressively monitors its networks for intrusions and has
appropriate procedures to address events of this nature," he said.

© 2006 AFP