Virus Hits Computer Network of US Military Base in Afghanistan

As per the latest news on computer security reported by USNews on November 28, 2008, a computer virus hit the US largest military base in Afghanistan in November 2008, resulting in infection to around three quarters of the total computers at the base.

Security reports also revealed that this was not the first of its kind cyber attack on the Defense Department as security officials admitted that similar kinds of virus attacks had occurred earlier also in which information of troop and convoy movements transmitted to the attacker. But the investigators have not been able to find out what kind of information was stolen from the Defense Department computers by the latest virus, said security officials, as reported by USNews November 28, 2008.

According to some security reports, security officials are aware of the magnitude of computer attack and called it extremely aggressive. They have also argued that this attack was emerged from China.

Although security officials couldn't find out whether the virus attack was a part of the Chinese government' secret plan or an act of hackers, a US military agency official said that from such kind of attacks, Chinese learn a lot about the US logistics and other systems.

Meanwhile, some US military officials posted at the base said that they prohibited the use of "thumb drives" or portable flash memory sticks after learning more about the virus. This move by the security officials highlights the growing concerns of virus spreading through portable devices from separate computer networks in the field.

According to news reports came in the third week of November 2008, Pentagon officials also put restrictions on the use of thumb drives after learning that they were transmitting viruses into the computer networks of the Defense Department.

While the details of the attacks still to come, the US News, LA Times and World Report are coming up with news that the intrusion was severe prompted authorities to raise the INFOCON status. INFOCON status is a threat level system used by the US military to take steps against computer network attacks.

Related article: Virus Infects Through USB Drives

» SPAMfighter News - 11-12-2008

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