Iranian hackers compromised airlines, airports, critical infrastructure companies

IT World ^ | 12/2/14 | Lucian Constantin

[grandpa jones]

For the past two years, a team of Iranian hackers has compromised computers and networks belonging to over 50 organizations from 16 countries, including airlines, defense contractors, universities, military installations, hospitals, airports, telecommunications firms, government agencies, and energy and gas companies.

The attacks have collectively been dubbed Operation Cleaver after a string found in various malware tools used by the hacker group, which is believed to operate primarily out of Tehran.

"We discovered over 50 victims in our investigation, distributed around the globe," said researchers from IT security firm Cylance in an extensive report released Tuesday. "Ten of these victims are headquartered in the US and include a major airline, a medical university, an energy company specializing in natural gas production, an automobile manufacturer, a large defense contractor, and a major military installation."

[grandpa jones]

"Perhaps the most bone-chilling evidence we collected in this campaign was the targeting and compromise of transportation networks and systems such as airlines and airports in South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan," the Cylance researchers said. "The level of access seemed ubiquitous: Active Directory domains were fully compromised, along with entire Cisco Edge switches, routers, and internal networking infrastructure."

"They achieved complete access to airport gates and their security control systems, potentially allowing them to spoof gate credentials," the researchers said. "They gained access to PayPal and Go Daddy credentials allowing them to make fraudulent purchases and allowed unfettered access to the victim's domains. We witnessed a shocking amount of access into the deepest parts of these companies and the airports in which they operate."

[Celtic Conservative]

I see it’s time to turn some Iranian centrifuges up to “warp speed” again.

CC

[doc1019]

We have the greatest hackers in the world, we have the best technology the world has ever seen and only G_d has more money ... and we can’t bring these semi-literate computer weasels to their knees? Please.

[yarddog]

If I were commander in chief, I would try to get the Senate to approve military action in Iran to stop their constant waging of a low grade war with us..

Our nuclear forces would be upgraded in every way but just in case.
Next I would determine where the nasties were hiding and that includes anyone who is harming America or our close allies.

I would then begin to drop 20,000 lb. MOABs on every single rats nest in Iran

If they try anything atomic, we do the same and nor with just enough. Instead enough to wipe them out.

[Walkingfeather]

There are 588 dams in Iran, lose one every day for a year and a half...

[Lurker]

“along with entire Cisco Edge switches, routers, and internal networking infrastructure.”

A huge amount of Cisco branded stuff is counterfeit. And guess where most of it comes from.

[Jane Long]

Our hackers are too busy helping Hollyweird determine who hacked them, rather than help average American’s and American businesses, who’ve been hacked.

[doc1019]

From what I understand, the best hackers already work for the Government (NSA, etc), why can’t they beat this menace?

[OftheOhio]

Way past the time to glass this place over, make a statement. Let the other commies get a clue about us rolling over them like we did in Iraq, on a grander scale.

[RitchieAprile]

believe it or not there are bright people in Iran.
Persian civ is 300+ years old.

[PieterCasparzen]

What a bogus story. Globalists just keep tryin’ to get that war with Iran going.

[grandpa jones]

What part of the CYLANCE report do you question? Your comment is the only thing that is bogus.