Iran hacked U.S. Navy Computers

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U.S. officials revealed that Iran hacked unclassified Navy computers in recent weeks in an escalation of cyber attacks against U.S. infrastructures.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran hacked unclassified U.S. Navy computers, the allegations were made by U.S. officials that consider the attacks of most serious intrusion within Government Network made by foreign states.

The U.S. officials said the attacks were carried out by hackers working for Iran’s government or by a group acting with the approval of Iranian leaders. The most recent incident came in the week starting Sept. 15, before a security upgrade, the officials said. Iranian officials didn’t respond to requests to comment.

According to Security Affairs U.S. officials sustained that Iranian hackers working for the government of Teheran have repeatedly violated computer systems within an unclassified Navy computer network for cyber espionage purpose.

Despite no sensitive information has been leaked the event is considered very concerning for U.S. Intelligence, as similar attacks could expose confidential information such as blueprints of a new cyber weapon.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Iran’s cyber abilities have increased gradually reaching a concerning level, Teheran has sufficient cyber abilities to attack the U.S. causing serious damages to the critical infrastructures of the country. Iranian state sponsored hackers could hit critical infrastructure using malicious code and tools available on the internet or purchased in underground markets.

The study “Iran: How a Third Tier Cyber Power Can Still Threaten the United States”, published by the Atlantic Council contends that despite the Iranian cyber capabilities are considered modest, they could be sufficient to launch attacks against the U.S. that would do more damage to public perceptions than actual infrastructure.

“Their ability to also play in this [cyber] sandbox compounds that concern,” a U.S. official said.

U.S. officials added that Congress has been briefed on the attack, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey discussed on the necessity further improve government network security.

“The Pentagon wouldn’t confirm the alleged Iranian hacks. A department spokesman said its networks are attacked daily. “We take these attempts seriously and work to learn lessons from every one of them,” the spokesman said.