The U.S Is Losing the Cyber War

The huge theft from the Office of Personnel Management comes after years of Obama administration passivity despite repeated digital attacks.  The Obama administration has disclosed that for the past year China had access to the confidential records of four million federal employees.

This was the biggest breach ever, until the administration later admitted the number of hacked employees is at least 18 million. In congressional testimony it became clear the number could reach 32 million, all current and former federal workers.

The Chinese hackers managed to gain “administrator privileges,” allowing them full access to the computers of the US Office of Personnel Management. Among other things, they were able to download confidential forms that list “close or continuous contacts,” including those overseas—giving Beijing a new tool to identify and suppress dissenters.

That’s not the worst of it. The administration disclosed a separate intrusion that gave Beijing full access to the confidential background-check information on federal employees and private contractors who apply for security clearances. That includes the 4.5 million Americans who currently have access to the country’s top secrets. The potential for blackmail is chilling.
Since 1996 the Defense Department has considered 18,272 appeals from contractors whose security-clearance applications were denied. Decisions in these cases are posted, without names, on a Pentagon website under the heading “Industrial Security Clearance Decisions.” These are detailed case assessments on whether these individuals can be trusted or whether something in their background disqualifies them. China now knows who they are.

One man kept his security clearance despite admitting a 20-year affair with his college roommate’s wife, about which his own wife was unaware. Another accessed pornography on his work computer and didn’t tell his wife “because he feels embarrassed by his conduct.” Another admitted shooting his teenage son in the leg. Other cases detailed spousal abuse, drugs, alcoholism, tax evasion and gambling.

OPM director Katherine Archuleta tried to dodge blame for the security lapses. “I don’t believe anyone is personally responsible,” she told a Senate committee last week. “If there’s anyone to blame, it’s the perpetrators.”
That’s bunk. It’s normal for governments to spy on each other. “If I, as director of the CIA or National Security Agency, would have had the opportunity to grab the equivalent in the Chinese system, I would not have thought twice,” Michael Hayden, who has headed both agencies, told a Wall Street Journal conference recently. 

The Edward Snowden leaks distracted Washington from the pressing challenge of using intelligence better to prevent foreign hacking of Americans, a challenge only the NSA has the range of tools to meet.

The Obama administration passively endured years of cyber attacks leading to these most recent hacks. It only reluctantly named North Korea as the culprit in the hacking of Sony Pictures. A federal prosecutor indicted five Chinese military hackers, but the defendants remain safe in China. Mr. Obama got authority to order Treasury Department sanctions against anyone involved in a cyber attack that poses a “significant threat” against the US or an American company, but he has not used the power.

Mr. Clapper says it’s time for the US to get tougher by outlining in advance what the US response will be based on the seriousness of a hacking incident. He proposes specific punishments for crossing various hacking “red lines.” 
Americans expect their government to protect them in the digital, as much as the physical, world. The next president should accept the responsibility to fight back against cyber war before more is lost.

WSJ: http://on.wsj.com/1JsvPdL

« GCHQ Has Spied on Every Web User, Ever…
Xi Jinping At Seattle Tech Summit »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Bishop Fox

Bishop Fox

Bishop Fox is a leading authority in offensive security, providing solutions ranging from continuous penetration testing and attack surface management to product and application security assessments.

Secure Thingz

Secure Thingz

Secure Thingz focus on developing and delivering advanced security solutions into the emerging Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Critical Infrastructure markets.

Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems Center (iCyPhy)

Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems Center (iCyPhy)

The goal of iCyPhy is to conduct pre-competitive research on architectures and design, modeling, and analysis techniques for cyber-physical systems.

Trinexia

Trinexia

Trinexia (formerly Credence Security) is a specialty Value-added Distributor of Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, Security Awareness, Data Security & Governance solutions.

Sysmosoft

Sysmosoft

Sysmosoft specializes in providing highly secured telecommunication solutions for mobile devices for companies requiring protected access to sensitive data remotely.

Dark Cubed

Dark Cubed

Dark Cubed is an easy-to-use cyber security software as a service (SaaS) platform that deploys instantly and delivers enterprise-grade threat identification and protection at a fraction of the cost.

G DATA CyberDefense

G DATA CyberDefense

G Data developed the world's first antivirus software. We now ensure the security of small, large and medium-sized companies all over the world.

Oznet Cyber Security

Oznet Cyber Security

Oznet Cyber Security is dedicated to offering integral solutions oriented to the support and security of information.

NSW Cyber Security Innovation Node

NSW Cyber Security Innovation Node

NSW Cyber Security Innovation Node is part of a national network designed to foster and accelerate cyber capability and innovation across Australia.

ThreatModeler

ThreatModeler

ThreatModeler is an automated threat modeling solution that fortifies an enterprise’s Software Development Lifecycle by identifying, predicting and defining threats.

Netpoleon Group

Netpoleon Group

Netpoleon is a leading provider of integrated security, networking solutions and value added services.

IronClad Encryption (ICE)

IronClad Encryption (ICE)

Ironclad Encryption is Dynamic Encryption. The encryption sequence changes continuously so there is never a correlation between data sent and data received.

Riskonnect

Riskonnect

Riskonnect technology empowers organizations with the ability to anticipate, manage, and respond in real-time to strategic, operational, and digital risks across the extended enterprise.

Ipstack

Ipstack

Ipstack offers one of the leading IP to geolocation APIs and global IP database services worldwide. Protect your site and web application by detecting proxies, crawlers or tor users at first glance.

SGTech

SGTech

SGTech is the leading trade association for Singapore's tech industry, offering focused support and development to both strategic and emerging sectors in the industry.

HEROIC Cybersecurity

HEROIC Cybersecurity

HEROIC’s enterprise cybersecurity services help improve overall organizational security with industry best practices and advanced technology solutions.