GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: Report: Despite Earlier Warning, Nasa Still Vulnerable To Cyber Attack

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: Crunch Gear

29March2011 8:50pmEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: One day after McAfee warned about the dangers of corporations becoming vulnerable to hackers, we now learn that Nasa has similar concerns. Its inspector general, Paul Martin, has written a report [PDF] entitled “Security Practices Expose Key Nasa Network To Cyber Attack,” and you can guess what that means. Actually, don’t bother guessing. The report warns that six of Nasa’s servers that just so happen to contain critical data are vulnerable to remote attack. And if a hacker were so inclined, he could exploit those vulnerabilities to get further inside Nasa, wreaking all sorts of havoc (say, “cripple Nasa’s operations”) in the process. Again, panic.

The report criticizes Nasa for both not recognizing or doing much of anything to address these problems. Head in the sand, la-la-la nothing’s happening, nothing’s happening, that kind of thing.
(read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.

GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: 'The Dead Don't Protest'

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: Strategy Page

29March2011 3:30amEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: In the last few months, the government has quietly attacked the security of electronic communications in and out of the country. The government has organized a team of hackers (Iranians and foreign mercenaries) to use various method (deep packet inspection, forged SSL certificates) to read email that users thought was encrypt or anonymous. That may explain an increase in the number of pro-reform people arrested lately. But the main goal appears to be scaring the opposition away from using the Internet. (read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.

GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: Outdated rules limit Gov-employed hackers

GCIS CYBER-SECURITY BRIEFING:

 

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: NextGov

02March2011 9:40amEST

GCIS CYBER-SECURITY UPDATE: Friendly hackers and other computer whizzes who could help bolster government's cyber defenses often are unable to collaborate with the Homeland Security Department because of outdated policies that Congress and the White House must reform, former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge said on Tuesday.

Ridge, his successor Michael Chertoff and current DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano discussed the evolution of threats to the United States, including those to network security, at a Georgetown University event, hosted by the Aspen Institute, to mark the department's 8th anniversary.

The federal government is short tens of thousands of cyber experts, by some estimates, and is aggressively trying to attract new talent through scholarships and other youth competitions. For example, a program that the National Science Foundation runs covers the cost of books, tuition, and room and board for students willing to concentrate in information security and then work for the government.

Napolitano said the Office of Personnel Management has granted DHS direct authority to hire 1,000 cybersecurity specialists.

Despite such opportunities, members of the hacker community remain wary of working with the government. They know how to find network weaknesses, but might be leery of sharing such talents, if lending a hand requires navigating through too much red tape. (read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.