Security News > 2011 > May > Military fends off major cyber attack

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/05/19/military-fends-off-major-cyber-attack/ Views and News from Norway May 19, 2011 Norwegian military personnel were the targets of what’s being described as a "massive" cyber attack this spring, one day after Norway started bombing Libya with other UN- and NATO-backed forces. Newspaper VG reported Thursday that they fended off the attack, which was considered the most serious ever experienced. It came in the form of an e-mail written in what was said to be "good Norwegian" that looked like it had been sent by another Norwegian government agency. It contained an attachment, however, that when opened unleashed a computer virus that could have opened up military PCs to the attackers. Several hundred defense ministry employees received the same e-mail, reported VG. One employee opened the attachment, allowing the unknown attackers to gain access to that employee’s PC, but the virus was then quickly discovered and warnings issued. The attackers didn’t succeed with further infiltration, claimed Major General Roar Sundseth, adding that they also failed to obtain classified information before the attack was discovered. [...]

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http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/05/19/military-fends-off-major-cyber-attack/