[ISN] Cyber Attack Linked to Company of Former Russian Spies

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/10/cyber-attack-linked-company-russian-spies/

By Jennifer Griffin
FOXNews.com
December 10, 2008 

The recent cyber attack on the U.S. military's classified computer 
network has been traced to a front company run by several former Russian 
KGB or Federal Security Service spies, FOX News has learned.

The attack led the Pentagon to ban the use of external hardware devices, 
such as flash drives, because that's how the "worm" got into the 
classified military network.

FOX News has learned the intrusion was discovered by the U.S. military 
in Afghanistan -- and that the attack came through the local Internet 
service provider that the Afghans (under U.S. supervision) contracted 
out to a front company run by former Russian spies.

The U.S. military relies on this Internet service provider. Homeland 
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday warned the Russians had 
already used cyber warfare in Georgia.

"There was a preceding effort in denial of service ... by let us say 
sympathizers to the Russian side of the dispute. That was a prelude and 
an adjunct to the military attack where Russian troops entered Georgia," 
Chertoff said. "I think this is a harbinger of what's to come, the use 
of cyber attacks -- preparing the battlefield, so to speak."

[...]


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