The financial Times is reporting today that the Pentagon’s computers were hacked by the Chinese Military in June of this year!
If it is true then this is the first publicised attack on US computer systems by the Chinese Military since the Titan Rain attacks of 2003.
According to the article:
The PLA regularly probes US military networks – and the Pentagon is widely assumed to scan Chinese networks – but US officials said the penetration in June raised concerns to a new level because of fears that China had shown it could disrupt systems at critical times.
“The PLA has demonstrated the ability to conduct attacks that disable our system…and the ability in a conflict situation to re-enter and disrupt on a very large scale,†said a former official, who said the PLA had penetrated the networks of US defence companies and think-tanks.
What with the Russian cyber attacks on Estonia earlier this year and now this Chinese attack on the US, cyber warfare seems to be becoming less science fiction and more science fact.
Update – more coverage of this story on Techmeme
networks of US defence companies and think-tanks. This is not surprising, having worked for a defence contractor, most are completely ignorant of security, or at best, arrogant about implementing any security at a level greater than that of an average small business.