SOUTH KOREA: South Korea warns personal computers could be hit in next cyber attack

Record ID: 352574

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Korea warns personal computers could be hit in next cyber attack
  • Date: 11th July 2009
  • Summary: PEOPLE WORKING IN AHN LAB OFFICE SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 10, 2009) (REUTERS) INTERNET CAFE
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Communications
  • Reuters ID: LVAD8QXV564QJJPBD4YNN86CNGET
  • Story Text: South Korea warns new cyber attacks on U.S. and South Korean websites could damage personal computers and wipe out stored data.
    South Korea warned the cyber attacks slowing U.S. and South Korean websites could enter a new phase on Friday (July 10) and cause damage to personal computers and wipe out stored data.
    The attacks occurred in five countries and North Korea is a suspected culprit. But South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was difficult to determine where the attacks originated.
    "About 86 IP addresses were found to be linked to the attack after the investigations. As a result of inquiring into the nationality of the IPs, it was found that they came from 16 countries. However, since there's no border on the Internet, that has little significance," said Jung Jin-seob, a lawmaker of Grand National Party, after being briefed by the intelligence agency on the cyber attacks.
    The host web sites believed to be behind the attacks were based in Germany, Austria, the United States, Georgia and South Korea.
    The attacks saturated target websites with access requests generated by malicious software planted on personal computers. This has overwhelmed some targeted sites and slowed server response to legitimate traffic.
    The last week's attacks, targeting dozens of businesses and government, including the White House, have not caused major damage or security breaches but served as a reminder that Pyongyang has been planning cyber warfare, experts said.
    Data stored on tens of thousands of affected computers could be damaged in the next stage, leading South Korean Web security firm Ahnlab said, although anti-virus software has decreased the damage from the attacks that started about a week ago.
    "The DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack, which started from the 7th, is processing its third attack. We found some files, which are damaging the storage disk in the affected computers," said Lee Byung-cheol of Ahnlab.
    The so-called "distributed denial of service" (DDOS) hacking attack spreads viruses on PCs, turning them into zombies to simultaneously connect to specific sites, unbeknownst to owners.
    Despite the fingers pointing at North Korea, some analysts questioned the North's involvement, saying it may be the work of industrial spies or pranksters.
    But the attacks will likely be seen by the North's leadership as a victory for Kim Jong-il -- even if Pyongyang was not behind them -- because they hurt its traditional foes and add a new dimension to the threat level posed by the reclusive state.
    Internet access is denied to almost every one in impoverished North Korea but intelligence sources have said leader Kim launched a cyber warfare unit several years ago in the state although the country cannot produce enough electricity to light the country at night.
    ENDS.
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