Friday, February 21, 2014

Iranian hackers entered ‘bloodstream’ of Navy network

02.21.2014


Photo by: uncredited  This Oct. 5, 2011, photo, provided by the U.S. Navy, shows Vice Adm. Michael Rogers. Defense SecretaryChuck Hagel is announcing that Rogers, the head of the Navy's Cyber Command, has been chosen to be the next chief of the troubled National Security Agency. Rogers, also a former intelligence director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is being nominated to replace Army Gen. Keith Alexander. (AP Photo.U.S. Navy)


An Iranian attack on the Navy’s largest unclassified computer network that was first reported on in September managed to get into the “bloodstream” of the system — a much more serious breach of security than previous thought — officials now admit, the Wall Street Journal said.

“It was a real big deal,” a senior U.S. official told the Journal of the attack, which affected the Navy and Marine Corps. “It was a significant penetration that showed a weakness in the system.”



The Navy reports that the compromised network has 800,000 users at 2,500 locations.
A senior defense official said that it took up to four months to “eliminate the bad guys” from the system, the Wall Street Journal said.

The response to the attack, called Operation Rolling Tide, was overseen by Vice Adm. Michael Rogers, President Obama’s choice for the new NSA director.

Adm. Rogers is likely to face questions pertaining to the attack during his upcoming (but as-of-yet unscheduled) confirmation hearing next month, even if most of his answers will have to be given during a classified briefing.

“It was a big problem, but it was a success,” the Wall Street Journal’s source said. “Mike Rogers did a very, very good job handling this.”


source

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