Day after Saudi hackers leak thousands of Israelis' credit card information, IDF voices concern over possible leaks of sensitive military information • IDF's computer service branch tasked with defense against cyber attacks, and intelligence branch assigned to carrying out cyber offensives.
Lilach Shoval
A day after Saudi hackers leaked the credit card information of some 15,000 Israelis to the Internet, the IDF voiced concern over possible leaks of sensitive military information. The IDF has recently begun taking measures to combat cyber warfare, with the Computer Service Directorate responsible for defense against cyber attacks and the Directorate of Military Intelligence assigned to carrying out cyber offensives.
The IDF's internal computer network is a self-contained network separated completely from the civilian network. In recent years, in efforts to increase security, information can only be imported into the military network at designated "laundering" terminals – otherwise nothing goes in or out. This means that information security personnel can track the import or export of any and all information via external disks and thus monitor sensitive information. Another IDF concern involves the recent integration of the Ground Forces Digitalization program (ZAYAD), which allows commanders to view real-time battlefield and unit parameters. The main concern is that the enemy would either gain possession of the devices that comprise the system, or alternately gain access to the information on them, and would consequently be privy to classified information on the location of IDF troops and other top secret data.
According to the IDF, the ZAYAD system - manufactured by Elbit Systems - is capable of disconnecting devices from the network if they are suspected of having fallen into enemy hands. However, the recent computer hacking incidents are sure to raise red flags among information security and computer services personnel.
No comments:
Post a Comment