Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Hackers Swipe Terabytes of Sensitive Pentagon Data

    By
    Roy Mark
    -
    April 21, 2009
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      With President Obama’s review of U.S. cyber-security due this week, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that unknown hackers have infiltrated the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program. The incident follows reports that computer spies have also hit the U.S. power grid and the Air Force’s air traffic control system.
      The latest hack involves the Pentagon’s $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project, where it is reported that intruders successfully managed to grab several terabytes of data, including information about the design and electronics systems of the program. Although the hack could allow the thieves to better defend against the Joint Strike Fighter, Pentagon officials said the most sensitive data about the program was untouched, since it is stored on a computer not connected to the Internet.
      The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed sources who claimed the attacks originated from China, although Pentagon officials said it is very easy to mask such attacks and no actual proof exists of Chinese involvement. The Chinese Embassy in Washington denied the allegations.
      Also known as the F-35 Lightening II, the Joint Strike Fighter is being developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and the British Royal Navy. A stealth, supersonic multirole fighter, the F-35 relies on 7.5 million lines of code, more than three times the code employed on any other fighter plane.
      The hackers infiltrated the system through network vulnerabilities of several contractors working on the project. In addition to Lockheed Martin, other contractors working on the fighter plane include Northrup Grumman and BAE Systems. The spies encrypted the data as it was being stolen, leaving Pentagon officials unable to account for all of the data that may have been stolen.
      Currently, the United States has no centralized government or military office responsible for cyber-security. Shortly after taking office, Obama ordered his National Security and Homeland Security advisers to conduct a 60-day review of the U.S. government’s cyber-security plans, programs and activities. The review, which is due as early as this week, is headed by Melissa Hathaway, who served as the national cyber-security coordinator under former President Bush.
      Hathaway was also named a senior director at the National Security Council, and numerous media accounts have mentioned her as a top candidate to serve as Obama’s cyber-security chief. A former Booz Allen consultant, Hathaway led a group that developed Bush’s National Cybersecurity Initiative.
      On several occasions while campaigning for the presidency, Obama stressed the importance of beefing up the United States’ cyber-security efforts while at the same time protecting privacy rights. At a campaign stop in Indiana, Obama said, “We need to build the capacity to identify, isolate and respond to any cyber-attack. And we need to develop new standards for the cyber-security that protects our most important infrastructure, from electrical grids to sewage systems, from air traffic control to our markets.”

      Roy Mark

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×