Homeland Insecurity: DHS Acknowledges Own Computer Break-Ins

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23871

Homeland Insecurity: DHS Acknowledges Own Computer Break-Ins
Submitted by Chip on Fri, 2007-06-22 11:08. Criminal Prosecution

DHS acknowledges own computer break-ins

WASHINGTON -- The Homeland Security Department, the lead U.S. agency for fighting cyber threats, suffered more than 800 hacker break-ins, virus outbreaks and other computer security problems over two years, senior officials acknowledged to Congress.

In one instance, hacker tools for stealing passwords and other files were found on two internal Homeland Security computer systems. The agency's headquarters sought forensic help from the department's own Security Operations Center and the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team it operates with Carnegie Mellon University.

In other cases, computer workstations in the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration were infected with malicious software detected trying to communicate with outsiders; laptops were discovered missing; and agency Web sites suffered break-ins.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said such problems undermine the government's efforts to encourage companies and private organizations to improve cyber security.

"What the department is doing on its own networks speaks so loudly that the message is not getting across," Thompson said.

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[tanyev]

1. Yessir, we are safer now.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. If they are too incompetent to keep their own systems from being hacked

How the bloody hell can we trust them to keep the country safe?