We often hear about Chinese hackers trying to hack our most sensitive computer networks, but who knew the Iranians could be this successful? Makes me wonder how successful the Chinese have been…
NEWSMAX – Iranian hackers were able to penetrate the Navy Marine Corps Internet for four months, monitoring the unclassified voice, video, and data communications of the network’s 800,000 users around the world, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The breach, which left Iranian spyware lurking throughout the system, was deeper and longer than previously thought, according to the newspaper. Officials said they had initially underestimated the skills of the Iranian hackers.
No email accounts were hacked, the Navy said.
The penetration will probably be probed during the confirmation hearings of Vice Adm. Michael Rogers, whom President Barack Obama has nominated to become director of the National Security Agency. As head of Fleet Cyber Command, Rogers is chief of cybersecurity and oversaw the Navy’s response to the Iranian cyberattack, according to the Journal.
Navy sources said it took four months, until November 2013, to drive the invasive hackers from the computer network because it was a significant penetration that capitalized on a weakness in a public-facing website. The sources added that the Navy took its time because it wanted to fix the underlying security weak spots, not just this particular infiltration.
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The cyberattack cost the Navy at least $10 million to patch. Broader defenses put in place at the Defense Department will likely cost several hundred million dollars more, the Journal reported.