Anonymous Strikes Again, Hacks ManTech

The online hactivist group “Anonymous” gained access to yet another government security contractor’s server and released approximately 400 megabytes of sensitive, internal documents.

The servers at ManTech International, a company that provides cybersecurity services to the U.S. government, were breached by the group on Friday and announced on the group’s Twitter account.

“ManTech has been owned,” Anonymous tweeted. “Release within 24h.”

Included in that batch of stolen information are mail…

Booz Allen Confirms Cyber Attack

Consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton has confirmed reports of hackers attacking the firm and extracting information that was posted online.

The firm said it is conducting an investigation to determine the nature and the extent of the cyber attack that involved the theft of “certain data files.”

“At this time, we do not believe that the attack extended beyond data pertaining to a learning management system for a…

Another Government Contractor Falls Prey to Hackers: 90,000 Emails, Passwords Stolen from Booz Allen

Members of hacking collective Anonymous yesterday tweeted they had broken into government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton‘s computer systems, as part of the group’s larger effort to expose government and corporate failure to secure computer networks, Reuters reports.

The hackers said they deleted four gigabytes of the firm’s source code and took 90,000 military email addresses, encrypted passwords and data related to other companies and government networks. 

“In [Booz…

UMUC Hosts Black-tie Cyber Gala to Highlight New Program, Next-gen Cyber Warriors

Cyber enthusiasts should dust off their black ties for the University of Maryland University College’s gala event An Evening in Cyberspace, which promises to bring together government and private-sector leaders with cyber scholars and researchers.

The black-tie event will toast the the university’s new cybersecurity programs and provide opportunities to fund scholarships for students entering these…

Mike McConnell: Debate will Continue until ‘Catastrophic Event’ Happens

Mike McConnell, former director of national intelligence, believes the United States is not moving quickly and effectively enough to secure the nation’s networks.

Speaking at the “Cyber 1.0” conference, McConnell said prior to leaving the federal sector, he advocated for the creating of an “independent specified command” that would be responsible for securing civilian…

Upcoming Debate on Whether “The Cyber War Threat Has Been Grossly Exaggerated”

Intelligence Squared U.S. will be coming to Washington, DC on June 8, 2010 to host a live debate that will discuss the proposition that “The Cyber War Threat Has Been Grossly Exaggerated.” The event will be hosted at the Newseum and will feature Mike McConnell, former DNI and presently SVP at Booz Allen, Marc Rotenberg, executive director…

Cyber: A General Perspective

Over the weekend, Adm. Mike McConnell, former DNI and presently heading the cyber effort at Booz Allen, published an article in The Washington Post calling for a new strategy and thought process for cybersecurity in the United States. The article highlighted a number of key strategies McConnell believes the nation should look…

“Our cyber-defenses are woefully lacking,” says former DNI Mike McConnell

Mike McConnell, former DNI and currently heading the cyber effort at Booz Allen, is intimately acquainted with the current level of US cyber defenses. Over the weekend, McConnell wrote an article published in The Washington Post which discussed how the US could go about winning the cyber war that many experts believe we…

We Would Lose Cyberwar says former DNI Mike McConnell

Cyberwar is increasingly entering into the mindset of policy makers. Earlier this month, DNI Dennis Blair outlined the cyber threat in his Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, saying that “The United States confronts a dangerous combination of known and unknown vulnerabilities, strong and rapidly expanding adversary capabilities, and…

NIST Issues Second Draft of Smart-Grid Cybersecurity Plan

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued its second draft of its strategy, Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements, for public review.

The implementation of smart-grid technology opens up a variety of new vulnerabilities with the power grid. Foreign nations and terrorists would be capable of using cyberspace to take down the power grid throughout…