I really hope that the pentagon wakes up and looks at the software/architecture they’re relying upon and the people they’ve put in charge of their systems instead of just going after people with usb keys. Just going by the story, this sounds like a typically bureaucratic CYA response. They should be lucky that their enemies launched a trial strike on them instead of in the middle of a war.
Hmmmm. Makes me wonder at times how good some of the IT folks really are. FWIW, I am now qualified as a GS-2210.
“...the unprecedented step of banning the use of external hardware devices, such as flash drives and DVD’s...”
If this is considered “unprecendented,” the Pentagon needs a new security department. Not bringing in outside hardware and software is a standard practice in the real world.
We have to keep bugging our reps to get ahead of this.
UPDATE:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/10/cyber-attack-linked-company-russian-spies/
“Cyber Attack Linked to Company of Former Russian Spies”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “FOX News has learned the recent cyber attack on the U.S. military’s classified computer network has been traced to a front company operated by several former Russian spies.”
By Jennifer Griffin
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, December 10, 2008