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stories filed under: "computer threats"
(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick


Filed Under:
admin password, computer threats, disgruntled, hacking, insiders, san francisco



Disgruntled SF City Tech Worker Takes Over City's Computer Network

from the those-disgruntled-workers dept

Every few years or so, we see a story about some disgruntled tech worker who has planted some sort of trojan in a computer network that lets him shut down or destroy the network. The latest just happens to be an employee from the city of San Francisco, and the computer system happens to be its new multi-million dollar system. Even though the guy is now sitting in jail, he's apparently refused to hand over the administrative password needed to regain control over the system. Right now, it appears that he's been able to lock other top administrators out of the system, and officials are afraid that he's actually opened up access to someone else (though that might just be fear mongering). As for what's on the system? "Officials' e-mails, city payroll files, confidential law enforcement documents and jail inmates' bookings" among other things. Just a reminder that while insiders may not be the biggest threat to computer networks, they can still be a threat.

69 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
Studies

Studies

by Mike Masnick


Filed Under:
computer threats, hacking, insiders



Insiders No Longer The Biggest Threat To Computer Networks

from the but-why? dept

For years, we've been told that the biggest threat to various companies' computer networks doesn't come from outside hackers, but from internal (often disgruntled) employees. However, a new study disputes that, saying that less than one in five security breaches were due to insiders. Business partners are nearly twice as likely to be the cause of an attack, and then outside hack attacks are the largest threat. Of course, what isn't explained is whether or not the earlier data was just wrong -- or if something has changed over the last few years (more outside hacking, better controls on employees, etc.). That would probably be a lot more interesting and useful than just knowing the percentages.

11 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
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