July 6, 2006
YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THAT GOOD:
Computer consultant hacked into FBI's classified system (Eric M. Weiss, 7/06/06, Washington Post)
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 Mueller.The break-ins, which occurred four times in 2004, gave the consultant access to records in the Witness Protection program and details on counter-espionage activity, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Washington. As a direct result, the bureau said it was forced to temporarily shut down its network and commit thousands of man-hours and millions of dollars to ensure no sensitive information was lost or misused.
The government does not allege that the consultant, Joseph Thomas Colon, intended to harm national security. But prosecutors said Colon's "curiosity hacks" nonetheless exposed sensitive information.
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.
Oughtn't we be grateful? Posted by Orrin Judd at July 6, 2006 8:03 AM
Around the time in question, the FBI was finishing up its huge new office/fortress in Springfield. Betcha this poor guy got caught in a bureaucratic crossfire between the locals and headquarters while trying to set up the new system.
Posted by: Jdkelly at July 6, 2006 12:08 PMShould we be grateful that after spending $500+ million, the FBI still doesn't have a secure functioning computer system?
Posted by: jd watson![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://brothersjuddblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 6, 2006 12:12 PM
jd;
Don't you mean "still can't provide e-mail to all of its agents"?
As for the original story, the FBI's claim is that if this guy hadn't hacked in, they wouldn't have had to fix the system and so wouldn't have had to spend that money? That means the real crime was embarassing the bureaocrats.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at July 6, 2006 12:48 PMCompare and contrast treatment of Colon's actions with those of Keller and Baquet's.
Posted by: Dusty at July 6, 2006 2:27 PM"using computer programs easily found on the Internet"
Well that's cheating. If he only used software developed under a Government contract, in accordance with all applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations... he'd still be waiting for delivery.