Chinese hackers breach white house computer systems[RISKS] Risks Digest 25.45

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:44:23 PST
From: "Peter G. Neumann" <neumann () csl sri com>
Subject: Chinese hackers breach white house computer systems

Chinese hackers have penetrated the White House computer network on  
multiple
occasions and obtained e-mails between government officials, a senior US
official told the *Financial Times*.  On each occasion, the attackers
accessed the White House computer system for brief periods, allowing  
them
enough time to steal information before US computer experts patched the
system.  US government cyber intelligence experts suspect the attacks  
were
sponsored by the Chinese government because of their targeted nature.  
But
they concede that it is extremely difficult to trace the exact source  
of an
attack beyond a server in a particular country.  "We are getting very
targeted Chinese attacks so it stretches credulity that these are not
directed by government-related organisations," said the official.   
[Source:
The *Financial Times* website has items by Demetri Sevastopolu, dated  
7, 8,
and 17 Nov 2008.  The above text is an excerpt from the most recent.   
PGN-ed]



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