A 2008 breach of a U.S. military classified computer network sent investigators scrambling and led to major changes in cybersecurity. Pentagon officials consider the October 2008 incident the most serious violation of its computer systems,
The Washington Post reports.
Investigators eventually determined that a rogue program, initially transmitted by a thumb drive, had entered the system, replicated itself and began looking for documents to steal. The breach was discovered when the program began trying to send messages to its creator, the Post reported.
The system infected held some of the most sensitive military secrets, including battle plans for Iraq and Afghanistan. Investigators suspect the malware came from the Russian intelligence service, according to the Post.
An operation called Buckshot Yankee was mounted to neutralize the malware. The incident led to the creation of a new command designed not just to strengthen defenses but to develop offensive capabilities, the Post reported.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.