FBI Issues Cyberattack Advisory

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,888247,00.asp

By Dennis Fisher
February 13, 2003 

The FBI's cybersecurity arm is warning that the imminent threat of war 
with Iraq and escalating tensions with North Korea could lead to 
increased attacks against U.S. networks. 

"Recent experience has shown that during a time of increased
international tension, illegal cyber activity... often escalates," the
FBI's warning says. This activity can be state sponsored or can
originate within another country which is party to the tension. It can
be state sponsored or encouraged or come from domestic organizations
or individuals independently. As tensions rise, it is prudent to be
aware of, and prepare for this type of illegal activity."

The clearest example of these kinds of politically motivated attacks
is the brief increase in activity between Chinese and American hackers
during the spy plane crisis in 2001. Security experts say there were
numerous incidents in which U.S.-based hackers - or those sympathetic
to the American stance on the issue - defaced Chinese-owned Web sites,
and vice versa.

The attacks followed an incident in which a U.S. surveillance plane 
collided with a Chinese fighter jet, killing the Chinese pilot. 

The National Infrastructure Protection Center also discouraged hackers 
sympathetic to the U.S. cause from launching attacks against Iraqi or 
North Korean networks and Web sites. 

"Regardless of the motivation, the NIPC reiterates such activity is 
illegal and punishable as a felony," the group's warning says. "The 
U.S. government does not condone so-called 'patriotic hacking' on its 
behalf. Further, even patriotic hackers can be fooled into launching 
attacks against their own interests by exploiting malicious code that 
purports to attack the other side when in fact it is designed to 
attack the interests of the side sending it." 

The NIPC's warning comes at a time when the country is on guard 
against what CIA and FBI officials say are credible and specific 
terrorist threats. In addition to the ongoing preparations for a 
possible war in Iraq, government and military leaders are also dealing 
with the possibility of a terrorist strike against U.S. assets here or 
overseas. 



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