Chinese hackers target MEA site
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) computer systems have become the target of hackers from all over the world with the latest attack coming from hackers in China.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) computer systems have become the target of hackers from all over the world with the latest attack coming from hackers in China. Official sources said that the hackers, who penetrated the computer systems of the MEA, are suspected to be from China because their IP addresses have been traced to China. The sources expressed confidence that no sensitive material was acquired by the hackers who penetrated the system last month.
The information stored in the systems include exchanges between headquarters and missions on sensitive issues and policy matters But the incident has clearly set alarm bells ringing in the ministry with teams being dispatched to ensure the security of the computer systems. Officials sources said that there has been regular checks and that the government is well aware of the dangers of hacking as it moves towards electronic system of storing and sending information.
In fact last year the Chinese government itself was accused of hacking into the highly sensitive system of the Pentagon in the US. The Chinese government denied that it was behind the attack and said that Beijing was against cybercrime. The hackers had penetrated the computer system in the office of defence secretary Robert Gates in June last year.
Official sources added that this was not the first time hackers have targeted the MEA���s computer systems and that there have been numerous attacks from hackers in Europe. They added that hackers have been trying to penetrate the system for the last 5 years.
���We have to revise our procedures... it (hacking) is a problem that will remain,'' official sources said. In another incident last year, a Swedish hacker had hacked into the websites of several embassy missions and then had put the email addresses of the missions and passwords on a website. The hacker had put up 100 email accounts of embassies and government offices of different countries on the website. This had includes the emails of Indian ambassadors in China, US, Germany, Sweden and others.
The information stored in the systems include exchanges between headquarters and missions on sensitive issues and policy matters But the incident has clearly set alarm bells ringing in the ministry with teams being dispatched to ensure the security of the computer systems. Officials sources said that there has been regular checks and that the government is well aware of the dangers of hacking as it moves towards electronic system of storing and sending information.
In fact last year the Chinese government itself was accused of hacking into the highly sensitive system of the Pentagon in the US. The Chinese government denied that it was behind the attack and said that Beijing was against cybercrime. The hackers had penetrated the computer system in the office of defence secretary Robert Gates in June last year.
Official sources added that this was not the first time hackers have targeted the MEA���s computer systems and that there have been numerous attacks from hackers in Europe. They added that hackers have been trying to penetrate the system for the last 5 years.
���We have to revise our procedures... it (hacking) is a problem that will remain,'' official sources said. In another incident last year, a Swedish hacker had hacked into the websites of several embassy missions and then had put the email addresses of the missions and passwords on a website. The hacker had put up 100 email accounts of embassies and government offices of different countries on the website. This had includes the emails of Indian ambassadors in China, US, Germany, Sweden and others.
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