Foreign Hackers Attack New Zealand Government Network

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said on September 11, 2007 that overseas spies had been trying to break into its computer systems but confirmed that they could not access state secrets. AFP published this in news on September 11, 2007.

The Dominion Post newspaper published a statement by Warren Tucker, Director of the SIS (Security Intelligence Service) that hackers attacked the Websites of New Zealand's government departments, stole information, and installed software to control the systems easily. AFP reported this on September 11, 2007.

Clark told reporters that intelligence agencies assured her there was no access of any classified information. She said she was aware of the governments that were involved in the incident, however, declined to name them, adding that her office had not interacted with the concerned countries. She said there were specific procedures to handle intelligence matters.

Several nations have experienced attacks recently on their government computer networks and the case with New Zealand was nothing unique, Clark said.

But according to Green MP Keith Locke, it is a matter of concern that sources from foreign governments were spying and hacking into New Zealand. Tvnz.co.nz published Locke's statement on September 11, 2007. Locke further said that the incident strongly encourages for breaking New Zealand's ties with the spying agency of US.

In the first week of September 2007, there were accusations on China of hacking the government systems in Germany and then the computer systems at Pentagon.

The US edition of UK's Financial Times reported on September 4, 2007 that Pentagon network suffered computer infiltration by Chinese hackers in June 2007 that led to closure of the system that was used in the office of Defense Secretary Robert Gates. KansasCity.com published this in news on September 4, 2007.

Meanwhile, China has refuted the accusations that its agent had hacked any foreign government network, saying the allegations described a 'Cold War mentality'.

The United Kingdom has also blamed Russia and China to be entangled in cyber espionages on its national computer networks to hack into the Websites of the House of Commons and the UK foreign ministry.

Related article: Foreign-Manufactured Software, Hardware Shipped with Malware, Admits DHS

» SPAMfighter News - 9/24/2007