Return to Article: Government computers top target for cyberattacks
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The federal government computer systems are attacked often because they have some of the most poorly implemented software with some of the worst firewalls imaginable.
This is because of internal bureaucracy. I worked for DOD for many years. I started when they were entering data into a mainframe from dumb terminals. Instead of keeping up with the industry, the agency I worked for was always years behind in computer technology and software. When industry was storing data on hard drives, they were still using large platters. Instead of using one reliable and secure software, every branch had to have it's own.
Because data bases were not compatible with each other and not networked properly there was a huge redundancy of data and many back doors. The DOD was supposed to be switching to electronic forms and reducing the amount of paperwork that had to be stored. Instead the agencies created more forms than ever.
A person wouldn't even have to be very good at hacking to get into databases at many DOD depots and laboratories. Someone working at a DOD facility could reck havoc on local data bases in other agencies before anybody would even realize it.
DOD data bases are still extremely vulnerable. Agencies, facilities, directorates and branch will not cooperate to establish a secure system. It's politics as usual.
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