Posted on 09/16/2008 3:56:41 AM PDT by Renfield
A group of Greek hackers broke into the particle accelerator's systems just as scientists were turning it on in front of the world's media
Monday, 15th September 2008
Even as the scientists at CERN, the centre for nuclear research, were switching on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator under Geneva last week, a group of Greek hackers were one step away from controlling a 12,500-ton electromagnet that serves as one of the machine’s four detectors.
The intruders posted a lengthy note in Greek on the machine’s network introducing themselves as ‘the Greek Security Team’, mocking the system’s poor security and calling the IT staff responsible for it “a bunch of schoolkids.”
The hackers said they had no intention of interfering with the operation of the LHC, but added, “We're pulling your pants down because we don't want to see you running around naked looking to hide yourselves when the panic comes.”
Scientists fighting off the attack on the ‘Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment’, which is competing with the Atlas detector to find evidence of the Higgs boson particle, reportedly described the intrusion as “a scary experience”.
"It is hard enough to make these things work if no one is messing with it,” an insider told The Daily Telegraph.
While only one existing file was damaged, half a dozen were reportedly uploaded and had to be carefully studied before deletion in order to avoid potential back-door threats.
"It was quickly detected and there seems to be no harm done,” said CERN spokesperson James Gillies. “From what we can tell, it was someone making the point that CMS was hackable."
No big deal, they just found the back door.
prisoner6
LLS
Well, I want to know who made the decision to set this thing up so it is connected to the internet.
I find it hard to believe that it’s necessary for scientists to have remote access to these systems.
As an IT person, I know just how stupid management can be, even smart people in management, when it comes to system security.
You would not believe the arguments and outright disdain people have for even the simplest security measures.
More than likely, the IT team was well aware of the potential for something like this to happen and warned against setting the computer systems up the way they are.
Unfortunately, they’ll probably get in trouble or be fired for being right.
Where's Lorena Bobbitt?
Oh. H-a-d-r-o-n.
Never mind.
“More than likely, the IT team was well aware of the potential for something like this to happen and warned against setting the computer systems up the way they are.”
Your post is dead on. Most people, even senior management view proper security as “IT is throwing their weight around or just being paranoid.”
We analyze the data in Chicago.
Can someone explain to me why such systems even have a bridge between outside access and operative control features? If its a manned system, shouldn’t all of the controls be on an isolated internal intranet?
Guess the “secrets of the universe” and “insights into the big bang” will have to wait until they change their passwords.
Why didn’t they just use a crypto device?
I don’t agree. They committed a crime, of course, but hackers are right about one thing—they indirectly do a great service by demonstrating the futility of most security systems and they help to make them better. If a couple kids can do this, imagine with a thousand dedicated hackers with unlimited resources (Russian, al-Qaeda, Chinese) can do. I say they should hire the hackers.
WW3 has already begun—it started several years ago when the Russians started massive attacks on US military websites and against sites of allies. al-Qaeda and China have also been doing enormous levels of attacks on security systems. I’m not suggesting these guys are on the same side—if anything, there’s a thousand sides in the war. But it is going on and we need all the help we can get.
It’s all fun and games until someone hacks in and creates a black hole that can’t be contained.
Have you ever heard of the term, "educated idiot"?
You make some salient points. Thanks.
LLS
LLS
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,577219,00.html
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