Swedish Hacker Charged with Network Intrusions at Cisco and NASA
May 7, 2009, By Corey McKenna
Swedish national Philip Gabriel Pettersson, aka "Stakkato," was indicted earlier this week on charges of network intrusion and theft of trade secrets.
The five-count indictment includes one count of intrusion and two trade secret misappropriation counts involving Cisco Systems as well as two counts of intrusion into National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) computers.
The indictment alleges Pettersson broke into Cisco's network between May 12, 2004, and May 13, 2004, and stole code from Cisco's Internetworking Operating System, which is at the heart of many of the routers and switches that direct Internet traffic. The intrusions at NASA involved computers at the Ames Research Center and the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division, located at Moffett Field, Calif. According to a CNN report, the intruder accessed unclassified weather information while inside the agency's computer system. The indictment alleges Pettersson committed these intrusions on May 19, 2004, May 20, 2004 and Oct. 22, 2004.
Cisco and NASA cooperated in the government's investigation, the Justice Department said in a news release. Following the incident, Cisco reported that it did not believe any customer information, partner information or financial systems were affected.
The Justice Department is continuing to work with the Swedish authorities on the case.
The maximum penalty for each charge of intrusion and theft of trade secrets is 10 years in prison, a three year term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
CAMIndustry Solutions for Government
Read real world deployments of technology in government from our sponsors.
View All Industry SolutionsRelated Products and Services
Marketplace
brought to you by:
CA RC Q1 2010 Resource Center
Take our Identity
Lifecycle Management (ILM) Survey
Can your organization keep pace with its growing demands while enforcing security controls?
Mainframe
- White Paper: The Mainframe Opportunity IT Strategies For Achieving Breakthrough Value
Forrester conducted interviews with CIOs/CTOs of mainframe users in the US and Europe to better understand their strategies in the use of the mainframe.
- Strategy Paper: CA's Mainframe 2.0 Strategy Roadmap
Fully capitalize on the potential value offered by the mainframe as the availability of mainframe professionals becomes increasingly constrained.
- MF 2.0 Product Brochure
Mainframe 2.0 is CA’s new and far-reaching initiative that is changing the way the mainframe is managed forever.
Cybersecurity
- IDC White Paper - Identity Lifecycle Management: Bringing Together Security, Identity and Compliance
Read this to learn about the technology and best practices needed to manage your identities throughout their lifecycle.
- I Am Who I Say I Am
This paper discusses the drivers, responses and challenges associated with information security in Government.
- Simplify and Secure: Managing User Identities Throughout their Lifecycles
Find solutions that simplify, automate and secure the activities for creating and modifying user identities and roles throughout the organization.
Virtualization / Cloud Computing
- White Paper: Integrated Infrastructure and Performance Management for Virtualized Environments
Government agencies use virtualized environments to decrease costs, consolidate data centers and reduce environmental impacts.
- CA Virtualization Management
CA Virtualization Management solutions provide integrated end-to-end management, automation and security which drive better outcomes.
- Working Together to Maximize Business Value of Your IT Investments
VMware and CA have responded to your requirements by forging a solid partnership focused on your enterprise's needs.
Project and Portfolio Management
- A Life Cycle Approach to Grants Management
Using project management at every stage of grant administration can maximize funds now and for the future.
- A Platform for the New Transparency: Meeting the Challenge of ARRA Grants Management in State and Local Government
The sheer size of ARRA and new grant opportunities has had a tremendous impact on the workload of grants management staff. But the size of the program is only part of the story.
- Success Stories: IT Governance: Making the Difference in Cities, Counties and States
Decision-makers need to align IT projects with organizational goals. See how three agencies achieved this.
Government Jobs
Browse hundreds of public sector career opportunities in GovTech's new jobs section. Popular job searches: government IT, public safety, GIS, transportation, CIO, security, health
Video, Government Articles, Slide Shows, Case Studies, Privacy Policy, News Feeds (RSS), MyGT
twitter
100 Blue Ravine Rd. Folsom, CA 95630.
916-932-1300 Copyright © 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
Government Technology Magazine
Government Technology Magazine provides information technology (IT) case studies, applications, news and best practices for state, city and county government.
Get FREE SubscriptionEmergency Management Magazine
Emergency Management Magazine provides technology news and solutions to the local government authorities that help protect our communities.
Get FREE SubscriptionPublic CIO Magazine
Public CIO Magazine provides technology news and solutions to public sector C-level technology executives.
Get FREE SubscriptionDigital Communities Magazine
Digital Communities Magazine is the premier information source for cities, counties and regions to explore and share experiences and best practices beyond just infrastructure and mobile innovations.
Get FREE Subscription
Latest Government Technology News