WSJ: Hackers Penetrate NASDAQ Computers

Hackers / Man at computer, Binary code, with the word hackers

/ AP / CBS

Over the past year, hackers have repeatedly penetrated the computers at NASDAQ, reports the Wall Street Journal. Federal investigators are trying to identify the hackers and their purpose.

However, the trading platform wasn't compromised, people familiar with the matter told WSJ.

Investigators think unlawful financial gain, theft of trade secrets or a national-security threat designed to damage the exchange could be reasons for the penetrations.

"So far, [the perpetrators] appear to have just been looking around," one person involved in the Nasdaq matter told WSJ.

Sources familiar with the matter told WSJ that the Secret Service started investigating the attempts about a year ago.

Authorities have yet to identify any trail, specific individual or country associated with the incidents.

[Magron1]

Typical. Too greedy to pay for the necessary security on a vital system.. Every time somebody's identity gets stolen it's usually for this reason.

[jscott418-21618367473133020464]

Not very reassuring that they have a year looking for the hackers and have not found them.

[Cyber998]

As always, it's implied that the attackers are impeccably skilled experts managing to achieve the seemingly impossible. In reality, as we've seen at the Pentagon and NASA, the vast majority of the time it's plain incompetence on the side of IT departments. Not changing the default admin password on security critical computers, running years out-of-date software etc.

No doubt this security breech was down to sheer incompetence too, but will be dressed up as something "impossible to stop" to save face of managers responsible.

[Wookiee-1138]

Call the Major! The Laughing Man is back!