Computer Spies Breach Fighter-Jet Project

foxnews.com ^ | April 21, 2009

[rdl6989]

WASHINGTON — Computer spies have broken into the Pentagon's $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project — the Defense Department's costliest weapons program ever — according to current and former government officials familiar with the attacks.

Similar incidents have also breached the Air Force's air-traffic-control system in recent months, these people say. In the case of the fighter-jet program, the intruders were able to copy and siphon off several terabytes of data related to design and electronics systems, officials say, potentially making it easier to defend against the craft.

The latest intrusions provide new evidence that a battle is heating up between the U.S. and potential adversaries over the data networks that tie the world together. The revelations follow a recent Wall Street Journal report that computers used to control the U.S. electrical-distribution system, as well as other infrastructure, have also been infiltrated by spies abroad.

Attacks like these — or U.S. awareness of them — appear to have escalated in the past six months, said one former official briefed on the matter. "There's never been anything like it," this person said, adding that other military and civilian agencies as well as private companies are affected. "It's everything that keeps this country going."

Many details couldn't be learned, including the specific identity of the attackers, and the scope of the damage to the U.S. defense program, either in financial or security terms.

[rdl6989]

I did a search for this and was surprised I didn't find it posted yet.

[max americana]

A waste of time for these “hackers”. All they had to do is call Obama and Hitlery and they would Fedex our secrets pronto.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

These are inside jobs perpetrated by spies working in the gov and at defense contractors.

[wastedyears]

Chinese I bet

[HiTech RedNeck]

WHO THE @##$%^&*()! TIED THESE SYSTEMS TO THE INTERNET???

[SoldierDad]

So, who in our government is being investigated for passing along highly classified information to those who are engaging in the breach????

[conservative cat]

I wouldn’t take that bet for anything. I am sure of it.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Just think. BO is going to put your medical records on the internet. Isn’t that special.

[holden]

Unversity towns are swarming with tech-capable Chinese students who are assigned by their handlers to hire on at tech-related firms to get whatever they can. We were so targeted.

HF

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT and ping.

[Cindy]

FOX NEWS.com (WALL STREET JOURNAL): Washington - "COMPUTER SPIES BREACH FIGHTER-JET PROJECT" (SNIPPET: "Similar incidents have also breached the Air Force's air-traffic-control system in recent months, these people say. In the case of the fighter-jet program, the intruders were able to copy and siphon off several terabytes of data related to design and electronics systems, officials say, potentially making it easier to defend against the craft." SNIPPET: "Former U.S. officials say the attacks appear to have originated in China.") (April 21, 2009)

[Loud Mime]

Dude, you forgot the NY Times! They'll print it for everybody!

[rednesss]

"siphon off several terabytes of data"

Hmmm, note to self, if several terabytes of data is being downloaded, monitor network and sound alarm. I've got an idea, instead of trying to sue and imprison "pirates" for downloading movies and music, find the best of them and give them a job defending these networks.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Obama will say this is ok because the united states is an “arrogant” country and had this coming.

[rdl6989]

WHO THE @##$%^&*()! TIED THESE SYSTEMS TO THE INTERNET???

They work for the government, so they know what they're doing. /sarcasm

[taildragger]

In non defense it goes something like this, maybe they were following some of this design process:

Engineering is now about "Concurrent Design". All parts being designed for "X" part at the same time. If they are doing stuff digitally i.e. CAD/CAM, they want to share design files. Easiest way to bring the files together in a "master model" is to send them across the net.

[Never on my watch]

“siphon off several terabytes of data”

Terabyte here, terabyte there, pretty soon were talking REAL data.

The numbers we have to deal with nowadays are almost incomprehensible. I guess we are experiencing a several trillion dollar deficit and a multi-trillion dollar debt.

[advance_copy]

WHO THE @##$%^&*()! TIED THESE SYSTEMS TO THE INTERNET???

The Department of Defense has hired companies, who hired companies, who hired tech people that messed up bad, really bad.

There are ways of connecting systems to the Internet and carefully controlling what can be accessed without putting sensitive information at risk. But, if you do it, you had better know what you are doing. And then you had better monitor it closely.

Obviously, DoD has hired people who do not know what they are doing. I hope contracts are cancelled, people are fired, butts get kicked hard.

[Alex Kida]

The Gubermint wants to shut down the Internet and bring in Internet II. That way they can control the content and who can build websites like Red China and Australia is currently doing.

I'm guessing that they will make it free at first with very high speed to drive traffic to it. Then they shutdown Internet I. Just another false flag attack.

Everyone knows that sensitive networks shouldn't be connected to the Internet. I'm also sure that they can connect through fiber or satellite that is encrypted. This is purposeful is my best guess.

[gimme1ibertee]

Obviously, DoD has hired people who do not know what they are doing. I hope contracts are cancelled, people are fired, butts get kicked hard.

Agreed.Heads should definitely roll over this.Have to wonder how much of this stuff is the result of hackers or 0'bots who just want to contribute a little "hope and change".