[stylin_geek]

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.

[ko_kyi]

“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.”

[yevgenie]

We analyze the data in Chicago.

[LibLieSlayer]

You make some salient points. Thanks.

LLS

[Between the Lines]

Almost just as interesting, though, is the massive computer network CERN has set up to evaluate the prodigious quantities of data the LHC will produce. Called the LHC Grid, the network will encompass some 60,000 computers around the world in order to leverage enough computer power to go through the 15 petabytes of information LHC experiments will produce each year.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,577219,00.html

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

Well, I want to know who made the decision to set this thing up so it is connected to the Internet.

As an IT person, you should know the original purpose in setting up the "Internet" was to facilitate communications between US university libraries and government sponsored research laboratories. The thought being to make electronic copies of research abstracts and results generally available to people working in similar areas of advanced scientific study but widely separated geographically. Such studies include high energy physics, making a connection to the CERN accelerator almost a given. Other labs so connected are Los Alamos and Sandia Labs.

The Internet has grown way past anything envisioned by the founding organizations and has truly become "the worldwide web". What amazes me is that it's main function now seems to be disseminating pornography, commercial enterprise, a soap box for every crackpot blogger, and an unending supply of lame jokes. We truly have progressed from the sublime to the ridiculous in one generation.

Regards,
GtG

PS I agree with you regarding the security of their connection, it was appallingly lax and heads should roll because of the breach.