Breach, Critical Infrastructure Security, Data Security

Four NOAA websites compromised by an internet-sourced attack

Four NOAA websites were compromised in recent weeks by an internet-sourced attack, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) statement emailed to SCMagazine.com by Scott Smullen, deputy director of NOAA communications and external affairs.

The attacks were detected by NOAA staff and incident response began immediately, with unscheduled maintenance being performed to mitigate the threat, the statement indicates.

“The unscheduled maintenance impacts were temporary and all services have been fully restored,” the statement said. “These effects did not prevent us from delivering forecasts to the public.”

An investigation by authorities is ongoing.

Citing officials familiar with the incident, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday the attackers were from China, and that the incident – which occurred in late September – forced teams to “seal off data vital to disaster planning, aviation, shipping and scores of other crucial uses.”

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