24,000 Pentagon Files Stolen in Cyber Attack on Military Contractor

The Defense Department experienced one of its worst-ever cyber attacks this spring, when a foreign adversary hacked into the computer system of a contractor and stole 24,000 Pentagon files, senior officials said last week.

As the Pentagon unveiled its strategy for cyberspace operations, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III disclosed that over the years stolen files from defense and industry data networks have included plans for missile tracking…

US, Romania Bust Online Fraud Ring

A collaboration between U.S. and Romanian law enforcement agencies has disrupted an ongoing Internet fraud scheme conducted by several networks of organized cyber criminals, including more than a hundred recent arrests and searches in Romania, the FBI announced.

According to U.S. court documents, conspirators in Romania would post items for sale such as cars, motorcycles and boats on websites and online auctions. Interested buyers were instructed to wire…

Senator Urges Creation of Cybersecurity Panel

A Republican senator is calling for the creation of a panel to draft legislation on cybersecurity and electronic intelligence leaks without having to work through numerous — and sometimes competing — committees of jurisdiction, AFP reports.

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell,…

Pentagon Releases First-ever Cyberspace Strategy

The Defense Department today released its strategy for operating in cyberspace, its first unified plan that aims to address the multitude of cyber threats the nation faces on a daily basis.

“It is critical to strengthen our cyber capabilities to address the cyber threats we’re facing,” said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta…

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…

Blackmail Email Scam Targets Physicians

The FBI’s cyber crime center is warning about an email scam that targets doctors and attempts to extort them, claiming that if they do not pay up, their reputation and business will suffer.

Since March 5, 2011, the Internet Crime Complaint Center has received more than 50 complaints reporting extortion emails targeting professionals, mainly physicians. Victims were told complaints had been filed against them and posted online, claiming…

Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking OneSky Jets’ Computer Systems

A Goffstown, N.H., man has pleaded guilty to repeatedly hacking into his former employer’s computer systems and using that information to solicit new business for a competing company, the Justice Department announced.

Lawrence R. Marino, 41, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging him with computer intrusion. In the plea hearing, he admitted to breaking into the computer systems of OneSky Jets to obtain other employees’ email…

Jay Leno Tops List of Most Dangerous Hollywood Celebrities in Cyberspace

What do Jay Leno, Madonna and Cameron Diaz have in common, besides celebrity? According to new research, they are the most frequently spammed-about personalities.

Analysis of 25 million spam messages by Internet security solutions provider BitDefender revealed that cyber crooks most commonly use Jay Leno, Madonna and Cameron Diaz to spread spam. Barack Obama and Stephen King also make the dubious honor of placing in the top 10.

Other celebrities…

Crazed Wi-Fi Hacker Gets 18-year Sentence for Harassing Neighbors, Threatening Joe Biden

A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for hacking into his neighbor’s wireless network to make threats against Vice President Joe Biden and disseminate child pornography, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

Barry Ardolf, 46, was indicted in June 2010 and pleaded guilty in December. In his plea agreement, Ardolf admitted hacking into his neighbor’s Wi-Fi and creating several email accounts in his neighbor’s name. He…

UK: Terrorists Use Facebook, Twitter for ‘Cyber Jihad’

The British government is warning about the threat of al-Qaida using online technology to plan attacks in pursuit of a “cyber jihad,” BBC News reports.

According to U.K.’s updated counterterrorism strategy published Tuesday, terrorists’ use of social media to disseminate information and radicalize people is “commonplace,” and evidence shows extremists are looking to “invade Facebook.”

The strategy also…