http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,21948818-5013044,00.html
A HACKER has penetrated an unclassified Pentagon email system, prompting authorities to take as many 1500 accounts offline, US defence officials said.
"Elements of the OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defence) unclassified email system were taken offline yesterday afternoon due to a detected penetration," US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said.
"A variety of precautionary measures are being taken. We expect the system to be online again very soon," Mr Gates said.
Between 1000 and 1500 users of the system were taken offline, a defence official said.
On Wednesday, a congressional panel disclosed that hackers had also succeeded in penetrating computers at the Department of Homeland Security, the lead government agency in providing security against cyber attack.
"What does this mean? It means terrorists or nation states could be hacking Department of Homeland Security databases, changing or altering names to allow them access to this country, and we wouldn't even know they were doing it," Representative James Langevin said.
The Pentagon email system carries "routine email" involving administrative matters but not classified information related to military operations, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Gary Keck said.
Mr Gates said the Defence Department computers were under constant attack, but he could not say why this attack, unlike others, forced authorities to take down part of the system.
Pentagon officials would not comment on the source of the attack, or whether the hacker was able to read email sent over the system.
"We obviously have redundant systems in place, and there's no anticipated adverse impact on ongoing operations," Mr Gates said. "There will be some administrative disruptions and personal inconveniences."
"It will come as no surprise that we aggressively monitor intrusions and have appropriate procedures to address events of this kind. But, as I say, we get perhaps hundreds of attacks a day," he said.
