US Defense systems left open to attack

NEWS Serious weaknesses in US Department of Defense (DOD) information security procedures continue to provide "both hackers and thousands of authorised users the opportunity to modify, steal, inappropriately disclose and destroy sensitive data". The warning comes from the General Accounting Office (GAO) - the investigative division of Congress - in a report released today. It says not enough action is being taken to strengthen DOD security systems, despite a 1996 report outlining the problems. The GAO says progress in correcting specific weaknesses has been "inconsistent" across DOD units, but the Office praised the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for establishing a comprehensive security review process. The report has been broadly welcomed by the DOD, which said it encouraged any effort to heighten awareness of security risks.