Hacker Invades FBI Computers

Associated Press/CBS ^ | 7-6-2006

[bd476]

Hacker Invades FBI Computers



WASHINGTON, D.C., July 6, 2006(CBS) A U.S. government consultant used software programs found on the Internet to break into the FBI's computer system, where he gained access to the passwords of 38,000 employees, including that of FBI Director Robert Mueller, the Washington Post reports.

The newspaper said Joseph Thomas Colon broke into the computer system four times in 2004 in hacks that gave him access to files on the Witness Protection Program and counterintelligence.

As a result, the bureau was forced to temporarily shut down the system and conduct a lengthy investigation to determine whether any of the compromised information had been misused.

The government does not believe Colon's "curiosity hacks" were intended to damage national security. Nevertheless, Colon pleaded guilty in March to four counts of exceeding his authorized access to obtain information from the FBI system. He faces up to 18 months in jail. The Post obtained the story from court documents filed at the U.S. District Court in Washington.

Colon was hired to work on the FBI's "Trilogy" computer system. He claimed that bureaucratic barriers hampered him from performing even routine work on the system, and that he only used the purloined user names and passwords to speed his work, the newspaper said.

[diamond6]

18 months!!!! Sometimes I really think our judicial system is a joke. Yeah, that's a real deterrent for him to do this again. . D's wife.

[bd476]

"...The newspaper said Joseph Thomas Colon broke into the computer system four times in 2004 in hacks that gave him access to files on the Witness Protection Program and counterintelligence."

And the Washington Post obtained the info from available court records. The news just gets better and better.

[Fighting Irish]

Thank you for reminding me this .......

[RDTF]

rut roh

[thoughtomator]

He claimed that bureaucratic barriers hampered him from performing even routine work on the system, and that he only used the purloined user names and passwords to speed his work.

This is eminently believable.

[driftdiver]

Yes, like any good consultant you should just sit still and bill the customer until they provide what you need.

Its stupid and wasteful but it does keep you out of jail.

[bd476]

True. And then maybe he'll write a book while he's serving time or become a security consultant when he's released.

[bd476]

Okay, then do you think he deserves any punishment?

[thebaron512]

Customer stupidity is a great way to increase profits, since they don't listen very well.

[thoughtomator]

Maybe, I'd have to know more about what he accessed and what he did with it. As someone who is also frustrated by the way business is done in DC (sloooooooooooooowly) I totally sympathize with his stated reasons.

[Smogger]

He should get a reward for exposing the FBI inteptitude. That means any serious well funded attacker has been trapsing around inside the FBI's computers for years.

[bd476]

Sympathy, yes, but he at least exercised very poor judgment to tap into the FBI's secure section. That is the mark of either a complete loon, or he had another plan.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

.... but he at least exercised very poor judgment to tap into the FBI's secure section.

Absolutely! If he was impatient he should have just called the NYT and he could have had the information right away.

[CATravelAgent]

Anybody still think we should be allowed to vote over the internet?

[weegee]

Wonder if he did any research for Hillary.

[toru watanabe]

Agreed. This reeks of blame-the-messenger syndrome. Government computer systems are notoriously insecure; hopefully this will be a lesson for them (though I wouldn't hold my breath).