TMCnet News
Senate report: China hacked Transcom contractors' computers in 2012-13 [Belleville News-Democrat](Belleville News-Democrat (IL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 18--SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE -- The Chinese government launched 20 successful cyberattacks during a one-year period beginning in 2012 against civilian defense contractors working with the U.S. Transportation Command, according to a newly declassified Senate report released Wednesday. China initiated 50 cyberattacks, but Transcom was only aware of two of the attacks before the Senate Armed Services Committee began its investigation. Transcom, which is based at Scott, is responsible for moving U.S. troops and equipment around the world. Nine of the cyberattacks were known to either the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Pentagon, but were not immediately reported to Transcom, according to the report. The Chinese hackers stole computer access codes, assorted documents and emails, while also breaching security aboard a commercial ocean vessel under contract to Transcom and hacking into an airline hired by the Pentagon, according to the report. Cynthia Bauer, a Transcom spokeswoman at Scott, declined to comment locally and referred questions to the office of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in Washington, D.C. A Defense Department spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment. Richard Bejtlich, chief security strategist for FireEye, a cybersecurity firm in Milpitas, Calif., said his company tracks three dozen hacking groups that it traces to Chinese military, intelligence or other government agencies. "They're the worst in terms of scope," Bejtlich said. "They're hitting the most number of targets, and they are the most aggressive. When you kick them off a system, they'll try to get back on the next day." U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released a statement in response to the committee report. Durbin underscored the need for greater military cybersecurity. Durbin noted how the committee report showed the need for better sharing of cyber threat information across government agencies. "That is why I support a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act to remove some barriers to increased coordination," Durbin said, adding that he is committed to significant increases in expenditures on cyber defenses. "I am pleased that Scott Air Force Base will play a leading role in these efforts with the arrival of two new cyber protection squadrons," Durbin said. Two cyber security squadrons under the auspices of the 24th Air Force, which oversees Air Force cyber forces, are scheduled to be set up at Scott by 2016. More than 300 people will work for the two squadrons. Problems involving contractors and computer hacking are not new at Scott. On Aug. 30, the News-Democrat reported that the FBI was investigating whether a civilian cybersecurity contractor had stolen passwords and other sensitive information from government sources in Maryland. Jamie Magers, a contractor working for the Defense Information Systems Agency, also based at Scott, was discovered dead earlier this year. A suicide note indicated he was being investigated for allegedly hacking into government computers. Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at [email protected] or 618-239-2533. The BND Washington Bureau contributed information to this article. ___ (c)2014 the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.) Visit the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.) at www.bnd.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |