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FACEBOOK HAS SAID its computer system was “targeted in a sophisticated attack” last month, but that it found no evidence any user data was compromised.
The company said in a blog post that malware came from an infected website of a mobile developer and that “we remediated all infected machines, informed law enforcement, and began a significant investigation that continues to this day.”
The attackers used a previously unseen exploit taking advantage of a flaw in Java software made by Oracle, which was alerted to the situation and released a patch the first of February, according to Facebook.
The hackers appeared to be targeting developers and technology firms based on the website they chose to booby-trap with malicious code.
“Facebook was not alone in this attack,” the Northern California-based company said.
“It is clear that others were attacked and infiltrated recently as well.”
‘Massive cyber-espionage’
The US intelligence community has concluded that America is the target of a massive cyber-espionage campaign that is threatening its competitiveness, The Washington Post reported just days ago.
Citing unnamed officials, the newspaper said the conclusion is contained in the National Intelligence Estimate, a classified report that represents the consensus view of the US intelligence community.
The document, according to the Post, identifies energy, finance, information technology, aerospace and automotive companies as the most frequent targets of hacking campaigns that appear state sponsored.
Early this month Twitter said it was hammered by a cyber attack similar to those that recently hit major Western news outlets, and that the passwords of about 250,000 users were stolen.
“This attack was not the work of amateurs, and we do not believe it was an isolated incident,” Twitter information security director Bob Lord said in a blog post at the time.
Lord said there was an “uptick in large-scale security attacks aimed at US technology and media companies,” as he told of Twitter detecting attempts this week to get unauthorized access to data in the firm’s network.
Other security breaches
The attack coincided with the revelation of several high-profile security breaches. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal said that they had been hacked, and pointed to attackers from China.
It was unknown whether the cyberattack on San Francisco-based Twitter was related to high-powered hacker assaults on Facebook or the two news websites.
Brazen cyberattacks on America’s most high-profile media outlets revived concerns over Chinese hackers, who analysts say are likely linked to the secretive Beijing government.
The Times and the Wall Street Journal reported that their computer networks had been compromised, alleging it was an effort by the Chinese government to spy on news media operating in the country.
The administration of President Barack Obama is trying to counter the electronic theft of trade secrets by lodging formal protests, expelling diplomatic personnel, imposing travel and visa restrictions, and complaining to the World Trade Organization, the Post said.
- © AFP 2013.
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Lessons to be learnt >> we’re gonna do the same thing over and over and no one will be punished or even remotely held accountable.
@David Lawlor: It’s next time we will have to try harder to keep things hushed up. We have learnt a valuable lesson.
Lessons to be learned, should be fffg new motto.
Ah the aul “Lessons will be learned” spiel. Are they ever though?
Lessons to be learnt! We have been hearing that since the Blood Contaminarion/AIDS scandal.
Is there any big news today that will bury this?
@James Lyons: They are using this to bury all the other things he has being up to..
@James Lyons:
Joe Biden comes back to ireland ?
LOL
Has there been another crime committed inside the corridors of power? Goodness me, what a bunch of lads they are? The voters must be so proud of their accomplishments.
Well that’s a surprise
Definition of Insanity. Doing scandal over and over again.
Two weeks to flatten the curve!! So many gullible people out there. Still.
They are an absolute joke.
@Fergal McDonagh:
the cervical check victims aren’t laughing
Herr tony coming back into public focus around the time of the release of his book. Hmmm. What chapter does he apologise to the victims of the cervical check scandal?
Some just want and want more power , power and greed .. Jesus how he could keep the drive with his wife’s passing ! Pass it to a younger person now . He will already get a huge pension.
Can’t wait to see Lessons To Be Learned , the Musical .
Remember when he was being lionised here on these pages? Remember someone making a mural of him with a superman outfit? Remember him receiving the freedom of the city?
It was all disgraceful then and it still is.
SF made them do it.
in any other country, senior individuals would have been fired. and yet the spin continues, as expected from the featured parties, ‘lost opportunity’, etc, and all that sort of nonsense. #SomeNeck #PulledaFastOne
” Lessons To Be Learned ”
Aaahh sure that’s the perfect name for a Eurovision song that could get us back to winning ways.
@Thom Thumb:
When I was young, I had a dream
And though the dream was very small,
It wouldn`t leave me.
To be a beggar for a fee
To play the poet or the fool
And now you see me.
And now the miracle is mine
And fault and the war begun
And now there`s nothing left to hide,
Still I………
And now I`ve nothing left but time,
Still I reach out through this empty life
Monk not guilty
@Nicholas O’Halloran: lotta people running for the hills I’d say.
@Nicholas O’Halloran:
Look at Da
i bet the monk done Da
Donnelly is a muppet. A fully qualified spoofer. As for Holohan? The whiff of arrogance from him is stifling.
@Kenmark:
he might go for president
“Lessons to be learned” , that phrase is a way for those in power to politely tell the public to F off .
If I hear lessons to be learnt one more time from a FF or FG lackey, I will lose my 5h1t!!
@Stephen Mullins:
and if i hear “Move forward” from SF
@GERARD KENNELLY: You must get tired always being wrong and having to eat **** from shinner’s. That’s what you get for being wrong so change the tune
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