Re: WashPost: Consultant broke FBI computer security using off the shelf software

[Ralph Shnelvar <ralphs@xxxxxxxxx>]

Has anyone sent this to the SoS or County Clerk?

If no one has, then I'll forward this article to them with a cover letter.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Ralph Shnelvar


On Thu, 6 Jul 2006 12:59:14 -0600, you wrote:

>
>Able to access 38,000 passwords, witness protection info, etc., did  
>it "simply" to get around the "bureaucracy" of the security  
>system...also interesting that he appears to have had insider  
>complicity and/or approval in doing so...
>
>----------
>
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/05/ 
>AR2006070501489_pf.html
>
>[ alt url: http://tinyurl.com/lx32f ]
>
>
>Consultant Breached FBI's Computers
>Frustrated by Bureaucracy, Hacker Says Agents Approved and Aided  
>Break-Ins
>By Eric M. Weiss
>Washington Post Staff Writer
>Thursday, July 6, 2006; A05
>
>A government consultant, using computer programs easily found on the  
>Internet, managed to crack the FBI's classified computer system and  
>gain the passwords of 38,000 employees, including that of FBI  
>Director Robert S. Mueller III.
>
>[...]
>
>Colon, 28, an employee of BAE Systems who was assigned to the FBI  
>field office in Springfield, Ill., said in court filings that he used  
>the passwords and other information to bypass bureaucratic obstacles  
>and better help the FBI install its new computer system. And he said  
>agents in the Springfield office approved his actions.
>
>