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Panetta Cyber Warning

Citing a series of “disruptive” attacks against U.S. companies, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta detailed the far more serious so-called “Shamoon” virus attack on the Saudi Arabian state oil company, Aramco. That August strike wiped out 30,000 of the companies computers. It created the image of a U.S. flag in flames on the infected computers and …

Iran Blames West for Stuxnet; Arres...

In the aftermath of the discovery of the complicated and effective Stuxnet worm, Iran’s intelligence minister Heydar Moslehi blamed western intelligence agencies for developing and unleashing the virus on thousands of Iranian computers. He has now announced on Iranian TV that his own intelligence team has captured “several spies” implicated in the plot to derail Iran’s …

Was Stuxnet an Israeli Attack on Ir...

Referred to as a ‘worm,’ Stuxnet is malware, or a computer virus, that was discovered in June 2010 by a Belarus security firm, though it was likely unleashed the previous June. Its purpose is to disrupt industrial processes and infrastructure, and the worm’s...

CIA to Improve Intelligence Gatheri...

Just about everything about the CIA is classified – including its budget – but occasionally we get a little insight into how it’s spending its money: This week, the agency announced plans to pour millions of dollars over the next five years into improving intelligence gathering techniques, technologies and communications.

Number 1 on the agenda is …

In China, Telco/Internet Companies ...

While in other countries, government places limitations on businesses to help protect citizens’ privacy, China seems hell-bent on doing exactly the opposite…that is legally enforcing telco and internet companies to spy on users and disclose private information to the government.

Indeed, China is on the verge of passing a law that would require telecommunications and internet …

China poised to win cyber war?

Google shocked the Chinese government – not to mention all us gmail users – by announcing on January 12 that the company had suffered a serious cyber security breach, likely perpetrated by China. Encouraged by Google’s bold step, other companies are now coming forward, and so we see...

U.S. spy chief reveals spy strategy

Dennis BlairTuesday night, U.S. Intelligence Director Dennis Blair shared with the public his new official spy strategy for U.S. intelligence, which includes more collaboration between the 16 different spy agencies, increased...

Hacker hunter turns bad

Credit card theftAlbert Gonzalez once used his wily computer skills to help the U.S. government track down hackers. Now it seems he’s crossed over to the other side, where instead of spying to protect U.S. citizens, he’s been spying to steal millions...

Australian domestic spy chief speak...

Australian flagDavid Irvine, who for many years headed Australia’s ultra secretive foreign intelligence agency (ASIS), recently shifted into a domestic intelligence role, and now – 4 months in – he’s started to talk about where the country’s at. As head of ASIO, Australia’s internal spy agency, Irvine is expected to...

U.S. spy chief in favor of less sec...

Dennis BlairDirector of National Intelligence Dennis Blair addressed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this Wednesday, July 22 and it seems he’s looking to involve the private sector in intelligence operations. This is an indication of a few things: 1. the recognition of the need to bring in...

Germany gears up for Chinese spy sc...

While China’s busy denying its hand in the decades-long economic espionage case that recently came to light in the U.S., Germany is ramping up to deal with a spy onslaught from the Chinese. According to the widely read German weekly Der Spiegel, a German intelligence agency has created the “China Task Force,” whose purpose is …

Rush of cyber attacks in South Kore...

Zombie computers is a DOS attackThe websites in South Korea that have recently been crashing under a series of Denial of Service (DoS) cyber attacks seem to be operating regularly again, since last Thursday’s assault. As a result, South Korea’s National Intelligence...

Pentagon taps into young hackers

Hackers at workIn today’s world of espionage, cyber spying and cyber attacks are not to be taken lightly, and the Pentagon has decided it’s high time they build an army of geeks ready not only to defend the country’s networks but also to...

Swede Charged for Hacking into Cisc...

Hacker at WorkFive years after hacking into Cisco and NASA computers, a 21-year-old Swede has been issued a 5-count indictment with...

Cybersecurity also a focus in Austr...

Volume of cyber attacks on the riseAs cyber espionage and computer crime are being deemed one of the most dangerous threats to national security in the United States, similar concerns are being expressed down under in Australia. While in the U.S. the Senate has seen legislation...