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Submitted by: Bill Hickey
NCVA Listmaster

NRT-0629 US Army task force to address intrusions into contractors' computers:

The US Army has created a task force to counter the theft of sensitive data via intrusions into military contractors' computer networks, according to an online press report. The Defense Industrial Base Cyber‑Security Task Force was established in response to an Army assessment that there are continuing large‑ scale thefts of "controlled unclassified information" from contractor systems.

According to the report, the assessment states that "Exfiltrations of unclassified data from [military contractor computer] systems have occurred and continue to occur, potentially undermining and even neutralizing the technological advantage and combat effectiveness of the future force." The effort Task Force will initially focus on companies making technology for "command control communications, intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance" systems.

The task force also is coordinating an interagency pilot program to assess the impact of past cyber attacks against contractors "to determine whether there may have been compromises of data on the current and future US Army weapons program, scientific and research projects, and war‑fighting capabilities that could cause a loss of technological advantage against our adversaries."

The task force reportedly will also address concerns about use of non‑US suppliers. The assessment states that the use of these suppliers "raises the risk that adversaries could insert malicious or counterfeit components into US Army weapons systems."

(www.washingtontimes.com. 27OCT08)

Last Modified: Friday, 14-Nov-2008 07:25:23 EST