Government Computers Under Attack

Computer systems, vital to national defense, are under a growing assault from Internet hackers, cyber terrorists and foreign spies looking to steal secrets and disrupt government operations.

"All around the country, there are literally thousands of attacks every day," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

Secretary Chertoff knows this firsthand; DHS computer networks have already been compromised. So have computers at the Departments of State and Commerce.

Hackers have even breached systems at the Pentagon, infiltrating the email of Defense Secretary Robert Gates. U.S. officials have traced many of the attacks to hackers inside the Chinese government.

James Mulvenon works for the Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis. Mulvenon, an expert in computer tactics, showed CBS News a Chinese military manual that says Internet attacks are part of a strategy to probe for weaknesses that could be exploited in future conflicts.

"The Chinese military in particular perceives that a computer network attack offers it a unique capability that they could use against foes like the United States," Mulvenon told Orr.

In response, the U.S. is implementing a classified plan aimed at detecting and preventing Internet attacks.

CBS News has learned the president wants six billion dollars just to get started.

"We're really looking to see whether we can have a game changer," Secretary Chertoff said, "really move the level of protection to a much more robust basis."

So far foreign hackers have not crashed any critical systems, but it's unclear how much information has been stolen - compromised secrets that could be used against us.

[bm6005]

Other countries can afford to make it less. That''''s how they built their power base.
Posted by hypnotoad72

You show off your complete ignorance of mfg. We haven''t forgotten, we haven''t priced ourselves out of the market, we''ve allowed the paperpushers to convince mgmt that mfg is "too hard". There are millions of Americans who can still make the best products in the world, we''ve just ignored what they know, what they do, etc in favor of the service industry BS lie! Typically I find those who spout off about american mfg never spent a frickin'' day of their life working in mfg or they are usin g comparisons from decades ago. Wake up MORONS!!! So hynotoad tell me about your mfg experience, I''ve got 44+ years of it! I''ve experienced first hand the idiot MBA''s and their moronic attitudes. BTW I''m a graduate mfg engineer.

[kennedy7955]

The answer to internet hacking of government information is obvious - take the government off the internet! A little common sense would go a long way but then we are talking about the US government.

[brianbwb-2009]

Take the "blue pill", and see how far the rabbit hole goes.

The real L337 know what I mean, bring them all down.

[glaswolf]

derekcurrie at 10:27 PM : Feb 01, 2008: I ran across an ex military intel computer programmer who was part of a distributed network of hackers who believed as a matter of philosophy that all information should be public, well at least to them. Just as malignant software can mask source location it can also force false sources to be detected. Rogue programmers come from anywhere and many really have no side of loyalty, they are lost in a sense of higher moral authority which is potentially dangerous to the world''s stability, a form of techno evangelicalism. But then, entropy was never known for its predictability. Keep chipper, as we are at war ... unfortunately we don''t quite know with whom.

[p-syrus]

Ah! The Joy of Linux!

So many problems which simply don''t exist! :-)

[donevis-2009]

Lets hope this isn''t a government ploy to lock down the free speech internet. All they have to do is say its a national security issue and "poof" no more internet as we know it. Lets face it, it was lies that suckered us into the Iraq situation so why not this? Besides China needs us to remain healthy so we can repay our debt to them. If all our sources of information are controlled by the government, how will be the people be able to know if we''re being told the truth? By listen to admitted liars? Does this have anything to do with those 3 communication cable that were cut this week? Who''s behind that? Stay tuned folks.

[mattcbsmatt]

You must prove and be proud to prove and explain your righteous enjoyment of the Chinese Hineses the asians anal eye

[mattcbsmatt]

They must do whatever it takes to appease the Hineses, the Great Asians anal eye, love, adoration and appeasement of the Chinese Hineses. The Great and sneaky Asians anal eye must be obeyed
They must prove and be proud and explain their enjoyment.
They must prove these things, for this is the way

[michellem99-2009]

I use Windows Home XP and vista no way.. Every thing is made in China..I can''t find made in USA any more..We have forgotten how to make in the USA. Sure China will burn us and our leaders allowed it to happen.

[marcpcbs]

These attacks are probably being done by moralistically unencumbered American Techno-****** that are being very well paid by foreign terrorists.