Psicop
More human than human
Premium
join:2005-12-21
| Large Hadron Collider hacked
Greek hackers have attacked a website associated with the atom-smashing Large Hadron Collider, posting a message on the site to prove they had infiltrated CERN's security.
Calling themselves "GST" or "Greek Security Team", the hackers targeted the site to expose vulnerabilities in its security, describing technicians working on it as "a bunch of schoolkids".
However, it seems that the hackers had no intention of interfering with the Large Hadron Collider itself, so people worried about black holes and strangelets can breathe a sigh of relief.
The hacked website - www.cmsmon.cern.ch - can no longer be viewed by the public. Only one file was damaged but one of CERN's scientists described the attack as "a scary experience".
James Gillies, spokesman for Cern, told the Telegraph: "There seems to be no harm done. From what they can tell, it was someone making the point that CMS was hackable. It was quickly detected."
»www.webuser.co.uk/news/267669.html
More detailed info here:
»www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.j···n312.xml
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Hilarious, scientists that can't even protect what they built themselves.
Or should I say,a bunch of schoolkids in terms of computer security. |
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Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
| said by Psicop  :Or should I say, a bunch of schoolkids in terms of computer security. Well, better that nuclear scientists are fooling with software, than with software guys fooling with nuclear physics  |
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m0d
join:2005-03-02
ireland
2 edits | reply to Psicop
.. and pure "skiddies" .. as the Green on Black text should make "obvious".. any hacker intending "real harm" or "headline grabbing stuff" will NOT behave like them.. ever.
I am on the side of CERN and other ppl that LOL @ them
Sure it should not happen .. but what harm was really done? PRESS is the root of all evil..
REALLY funny .. when ppl like "Steve Gibbson" are considered "alarmist".. would you not apply the SAME rule to this? IF NOT.. why? They got NOWHERE NEAR anything important.. so why worry?
Our old friend .. the FUD term .. 100% applies is all .. just why do I need to be first to mention it? |
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Mashiki
Balking The Enemy's Plans
join:2002-02-04
Woodstock, ON | reply to Psicop
Less scare stories IMO, I'll worry if they get access to the CIS or the grid. |
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KiZiller
@rr.com | reply to Psicop
I wonder why they decided to hook it to the Internet. Now it is probably root-kitted. Keep an eye out for some freaky spam particles. |
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Mashiki
Balking The Enemy's Plans
join:2002-02-04
Woodstock, ON
 ·Bright House
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| When the LHC is running full bore, it's going to be pushing 2800TB/hr of data. Just how do you transfer all that data to universities? Look up the grid.
And be less alarmist, some things have to be done. There's no other way. Universities all over the world want this data and there's no way that you're going to be sending undergrads on flights every few hours with a few cases of HDD's back and forth to get it. |
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jp10558
Premium
join:2005-06-24
Willseyville, NY
| reply to Psicop
Generally Scientists(Physicists) are not Computer Security Specialists. Seeing as how they are in two totally different fields of endevor.
Secondly, generally funding is very very tight, and of course - no one wants to pay for something they don't see as important. Finally, there's the time factor - there's lots of computer stuff to do that is directly involved in carrying out the experiment, where as a firewall config is not, and so lower priority.
I'll be interested in what they do to make it harder to attack in the future.
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Opera 9.51(Build 10081); Windows XP Pro SP3;Intel C2Q6600; 3GB DDR2 1066; 1M/128k DSL; Antivir Personal; Comodo Firewall Pro 3;Proxomitron 4.5j Sidki 2008beta,GPG ID:0x0A1C6EE3 |
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Psicop
More human than human
Premium
join:2005-12-21
| reply to Psicop
Hey I wasn't picking on the lab guys but it should be concerning though. Just imagine the LHC was running full bore and some lunatic-terrorist decides to interfere with the process. It could have been a very serious breach with nefast consequences (I guess, I am not a nuclear physicist so I might be totally wrong).
IMO they should have tightened the system from day zero and that's what the Greek squad tried to prove. |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to Psicop
Interesting how I hear FUD being mentioned but nothing to state why someone would make that statement. If you're with CERN in my opinion you should be shipped into the vacuum of space ASAP. Considering ego should not dictate science. Unfortunately it does. If their network can be taken over then can we really trust that they have put in place the security and safety measures to protect the Universe from being eaten up into a black hole?
--
Test PC Security
Cable Diagnostics
Blog
ZoneAlarm Help Vista x64 Comcast BroadVox Direct |
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Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
| Um, if you hack my website, does it mean you've hacked my network?
Most thoughtful people don't believe those are the same thing.
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Stephen J. Friedl | Unix Wizard | Microsoft Security MVP | Tustin, California USA | my web site |
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KiZiller
@rr.com
 from:
Steve
| reply to IGGY
said by IGGY :... the security and safety measures to protect the Universe from being eaten up into a black hole? Relax. The creator has made it very clear how the earth will end, and it's gonna be a helluva lot worse than getting mercifully snuffed by a black hole.
 |
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mikenolan7
Premium
join:2005-06-07
Torrance, CA
| I would have to say that being stretched further and further for eternity at the event horizon of a black hole would probably work as a definition of hell. Not exactly snuffed out anyway.
"We have several levels of network, a general access network and a much tighter network for sensitive things that operate the LHC," said Gillies.
They defaced a website, and hacked into a data gathering system, not the control system. There would be no reason to put strong protections on the data gathering system. It's science, the data will be distributed to almost anyone that wants it anyway. |
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dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to KiZiller
said by KiZiller :
I wonder why they decided to hook it to the Internet. Because that's what the Internet is for? It wasn't actually put together for shopping.
And it's definitely what the Web is for. Remember who employed the guy who invented it? |
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JohnInSJ
Premium
join:2003-09-22
San Jose, CA | said by dave :Remember who employed the guy who invented it? Larry Flynt? |
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dentman42
join:2001-10-02
Columbus, OH
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to dave
said by dave :said by KiZiller :
I wonder why they decided to hook it to the Internet. Because that's what the Internet is for? So you're saying the LHC is for pr0n?  |
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thm
@cogentco.com | reply to Psicop
Remember the Wise Old Saying, "Beware of Geeks bearing Gifs" |
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alien8
join:2004-03-03
UK | reply to KiZiller
Not that this will add much to the topic but... here's a live webcam of the hack taking place:
»www.cyriak.co.uk/lhc/lhc-webcams.html |
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