Friday, September 12, 2008

Hackers infiltrate LHC!!!!! Except not.

Hackers infiltrate Large Hadron Collider systems and mock IT security

"Infiltrate" is a bit of a strong word for this. Their website was defaced. That is all.

As far as skill and complexity of attacks go, website defacement is a few steps above port scan.

Website defacement is particularly limited in scope because the website was likely run on a Linux Apache server, and if you let it get out of date, or attackers know of an undiscovered vulnerability, the Apache server can be compromised. HOWEVER! Since it's not a windows server, compromising the Apache server means that the attacker would only have access to Apache stuff. The worst they'd be able to do (assuming there is no leverage) is deface the website. Oo ho hoho! Scary!

But even if t3h L337 hax0rz DID totally compromise the system, so what? Does anyone honestly believe the controls for the supercomputers managing every aspect of the Large Hardron Collider are connected to the internet!? (directly or indirectly) This is not Sneakers, where you fire up your modem, and connect to a power grid controller.

Yeah, I know this douche was probably just trying to drum up traffic with his sensationalist title, but who cares? Don't be such a fucktard.

No comments: