South Korea’s Presidential Office Attacked by Computer Virus

According to the statement released from Cheong Wa Dae, Presidential Office, South Korea, on April 22, 2008, computer virus had attacked on its network causing a leakage of unclassified data.

The attack occurred on the computer networks in the secretarial office of the National Security Council (NSC), Cheong Wa Dae, in which credentials of some office staffers were hacked.

Cheong Wa Dae also disclosed that it was a computer of a NSC staff member got infected with worm came through an e-mail. Consequently, hackers accessed important information such as total number of accidents nationwide, natural calamities, weather information and information updates on national security.

Basically, computer worms refer to malicious programs installed on the computer through e-mails. They usually used to create trouble in browsing on the net or to block the system but now, they are used to steal stored computer files.

Cheong Wa Dae disclosed that investigation into the matter confirmed in March 2008 that it was a worm virus attacking the NSC computer networks. Investigation initiated after taking over the presidential office by new government from previous government.

Earlier, virus attack presumed to have caused leakage of personal information but Kim Hun-jin, Presidential Spokesman, clarified that information was unclassified, as reported by the The China Post on April 23, 2008. Now, the presidential office strongly replying to attack by strengthening its network and considering necessary steps to nab those involved in the attack.

Moreover, the presidential office also revealed that an intelligent and malicious attacker launched the attack, after finding that IP address of sender similar to the receiver address. The host of attack was located in China but the hacked files were unclassified.

Meanwhile, Cheong Wa Dae released a press statement in which it said that attacks were possibly blocked by the installed firewall in the network. Probably, the attack and leakage of files happened due to negligence or mistake by NSC officials. Thus, follow up investigation is going on to identify accused of the incident.

The presidential office also brought an unidentified attack on the computer network, occurred on April 20, 2008, into light but the attack failed to cause any harm to the system because of installation of firewall.

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» SPAMfighter News - 4/25/2008