And unlike in past attacks by teenage hackers, officials believe the latest series of strikes at defense networks may be a concerted and coordinated effort coming from abroad. Until now, the Defense Department had not publicly acknowledged this latest cyber-war. The investigation is looking at a pattern of attacks that has not been seen before.
Officials believe some of the most sophisticated attacks are coming from Russia.
What is not clear, however, is whether the attacks are coming directly from Russia or whether the probes are coming from other countries that are simply routing through Russian computer addresses to disguise their origin. Initial indications are that, wherever the probes and attacks are originating abroad, they are not from individuals. But U.S. officials say they would treat any Russian threat similarly whether it comes from the government, industry or high-technology interests. I cannot emphasize strongly enough the seriousness of the insider threat to our information systems and, through those systems, to the Department's operations. Senior Defense Department officials are being briefed regularly on the investigations into the insider threat.