US: Hackers In Iran Responsible For Cyberattacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. authorities believe that Iranian-based hackers were responsible for cyberattacks that devastated Persian Gulf oil and gas companies, a former U.S. government official said. Just hours later, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the cyberthreat from Iran has grown, and he declared that the Pentagon is prepared to take action if American is threatened by a computer-based assault.

The former official, who is familiar with the investigation, said U.S. authorities believe the cyberattacks were likely supported by the Tehran government and came in retaliation for the latest round of American sanctions against Iran.

"Before September 11, 2001 the warning signs were there. We weren't organized. We weren't ready. And we suffered terribly for that lack of attention," said Panetta. "We cannot let that happen again. This is a pre-9/11 moment."

Richard Clarke criticized the Bush administration for their suppposed inaction to his warnings pre-September 11. Any remaining credibility he had concerning terror or cybersecurity should be obliterated with this development, considering he said this 12 months ago in an interview with CNet....

CNet: What is the real or imagined threat of cyberterrorism at this point?

Clarke: I never use the term "cyberterrorism." I think it's a very misleading phrase. There is terrorism and there are cybersecurity issues but the two haven't really overlapped. And the term "cyberterrorism" conjures up al Qaeda taking out the power grid and they haven't done that. The real crimes in cyberspace are (financial) theft and espionage.

This is not an overnight development. We know Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, and others have been working on this for years.

Another “October Surprise” attack pre-arranged by Obama and the DNC?

Quite probable. The entire report reads like classified information to not be read by our enemies eyes. If the truth was stated the enemies have been emboldened, and know the attacks have been or are near success. Why would someone tell the enemies of America they are winning? Kind of like what reid said on the senate floor, "This war is lost." What a mess! It will take decades to clean up, all thanks to those working with and for the enemies of America, aka zer0 and crowd.

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