Top Pentagon officials last week briefed President Bush on a recent cyber attack that seemed to target US Central Command networks and may have originated within Russia, reports the Los Angeles Times. There are frequent electronic attacks on US military computer systems, but an anonymous defense official told the newspaper, “This one was significant; this one got our attention.” Adm. Michael Mullen, Joint Chiefs Chairman, briefed both Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the attack, which US military experts are still investigating but, as is usual with most cyber attacks, will have trouble determining whether it was the product of a lone hacker or involved the Russian government directly. The attack reportedly prompted DOD to issue a ban on flash drives, which are heavily used throughout the US military but which can spread the malicious software.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
