Chinese Hackers Seized SK Defense Secrets

According to a report by South Korea's intelligence agency on October 15, 2010, Chinese hackers seized confidential documents from SK's foreign affairs and defense ministries earlier in 2010. 'FRANCE 24' reported this on October 15, 2010.

Additionally, the agency as well disclosed that the intruders dispatched e-mails purportedly from South Korean presidential aides, diplomats as well as other high-profile individuals whom Seoul officials knew. Files were attached to the e-mails laden with malware and they impersonated crucial documents like assessments of North Korea's economy.

Anyone who opened those attachments had malicious software download documents on the user's PC.

The hackers reportedly, intruded when officials in South Korea dealing with defense and foreign affairs clicked on file attachments, which had titles on topics like Kim Jong-II the North Korean leader's schedule for his visit to China. TIEPEI TIMES reported this on October 16, 2010.

Unfortunately, the hacking did ultimately happen despite the NIS (National Intelligence Service) detecting the invasion during the initial part of 2010 as also cautioning government officials of such e-mails. The NIS had also warned all SK state departments regarding the attack as well as had advised employees for cautiously inspecting e-mails prior to viewing them.

Nevertheless, the report didn't state the exact date of the suspected hack.

Said a South Korean Parliament member Lee Jung-Hyun representing the Grand National Party that during the attack lots of top secret files were stolen that possibly got exposed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. THE NEWS reported this on October 16, 2010.

Meanwhile, with regards to the incident, the Ministry of foreign affairs stated that it had suggested embassies abroad for exercising additional caution to the particular kind of hacking attacks. STRAITS TIMES reported this on October 15, 2010.

Said the security researchers that North Korea and China were usually charged with carrying out cyber-attacks on South Korean networks, yet often investigators failed to pinpoint which country was actually behind them since hackers utilized hijacked PCs that could be located anywhere.

Eventually, the Defense Ministry stated that it couldn't at the current juncture remark about the report.

Related article: Chinese Hackers Threatening Korean Game Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 10/26/2010