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   US Official: Cyberattacks as Much of a Threat as Iranian, N. Korean ICBMs

   by Reuters

   Constant cyberattacks on the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and its key
   weapons programs pose as great a threat as development of
   intercontinental ballistic missiles by Iran and North Korea, the
   admiral who heads the agency said Thursday.

   Vice Admiral James Syring told a House Armed Services subcommittee that
   the agency had taken "inordinate" measures to defend its own networks,
   but he remained concerned about potential vulnerabilities among defense
   contractors.

   The U.S. Missile Defense Agency develops and runs a multilayered system
   of defenses against ballistic missile attacks by potential enemies. The
   system includes ground-based interceptor missiles in Alaska and
   California as well as high-end radar equipment to detect attacks.

   Syring said that the agency carried out continuous monitoring of its
   classified and unclassified networks, but that cyberattacks were
   increasingly directed against private contractors and unclassified,
   controlled technical information that they housed on their networks.

   "What we've got to do is get them up to where we are in terms of our
   protection levels, and I view it as a very near-term, very real
   requirement across the [Ballistic Missile Defense System]," he said.

   U.S. defense officials have been increasingly vocal about escalating
   and constant cyberattacks originating from China, Russia and other
   countries.

   Syring did not answer directly when asked about his knowledge of
   attacks on the agency's networks by China or the Chinese military,
   telling lawmakers he would provide fuller answers during a classified
   hearing.

   Syring told a similar Senate hearing on Wednesday that the agency was
   working "hand in glove" with private contractors to ensure that future
   contracts contained the necessary cybersecurity requirements,
   protections and standards.

   Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work told Reuters this week that the
   Pentagon's Cyber Investment Management Board had prepared a list of
   top-priority weapons programs that required cybersecurity updates and
   investments.

   He said that the details were classified, but that some of those
   programs were launched years ago, before cyberattacks became
   commonplace.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/admiral-cyberattacks-much-threat-iran-north-korean-missiles/3286820.html