• IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here.

    The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.

So Huat! Now SG52 Universities got hit by Hackings! Balls Dropped!

tun_dr_m

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ks-hit-by-sophisticated-cyber-attacks-8840596


Meta Main Navigation
OpenAll SectionsAll SectionsClose
Now Reading
NUS, NTU networks hit by 'sophisticated' cyber attacks
Toggle share menu
Jump to top
NUS, NTU networks hit by 'sophisticated' cyber attacks
Singapore
NUS, NTU networks hit by 'sophisticated' cyber attacks
image: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==

File photos of Nanyang Technology University and National University of Singapore.
By Justin Ong
12 May 2017 02:00PM
(Updated: 12 May 2017 02:40PM)
Share this content




SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) suffered separate IT network breaches in April, according to the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Friday (May 12).

On Apr 11, NUS detected an unauthorised intrusion into its IT systems through a single server, while NTU detected a malware attack on Apr 19 possibly due to phishing or browsing of infected sites.

Both universities then alerted CSA, which has since been assisting them by conducting forensics and implementing mitigating measures, the joint press release added.

The objective of the attacks "may be to steal information related to Government or research", said authorities, adding that "there is no evidence that information or data related to students was being targeted".

Malicious activity was also detected in other institutions, Government agencies and industries during this period - but these were isolated and limited incidents which were quickly cleaned up, Channel NewsAsia understands.

Advertisement
"NOT WORK OF CASUAL HACKERS"

This is the first sophisticated cyber attack on Singapore universities. It was targeted, carefully planned and "not the work of casual hackers", said authorities.

The attacks were not part of a coordinated, orchestrated campaign and were not identical - they did not originate from the same place, and were not conducted by the same people.

But Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors - perpetrators who managed to gain access to a network without being detected and able to continuously access information whenever they wanted over a period of time - were involved in both incidents.

"However, as the universities' systems are separate from Government IT systems, the extent of the APTs' activities appear to be limited," said CSA and MOE. "The daily operations of both universities, including critical IT systems such as student admissions and examination databases, were not affected."

Said CSA chief executive David Koh: "We know who did it, and we know what they were after. But I cannot reveal this for operational security reasons.”

CSA, MOE and the universities said they would not be able to provide further details about the incident as it "could impact the effectiveness of additional defensive and preventive measures being put in place".

ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED

A NUS spokesperson said "immediate action was taken to isolate and remediate affected desktop computers and servers". Similarly, NTU said it immediately removed and replaced affected machines which included shared personal computers and front-end workstations.

"NUS and NTU have increased vigilance, and adopted additional security measures beyond those already in place," said the authorities.

CSA has reached out to other autonomous universities in Singapore, as well as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors and Government, to step up monitoring and checks on their networks.

"There has been no sign of suspicious activity in CII networks or Government networks thus far," said authorities.

In an email to NUS students on Friday, the university's chief IT officer Tommy Hor informed them that additional measures would be put in place to safeguard its IT systems. These include stepping up network and system monitoring as well as enhancing security management.

The email added that students are not required to change their password for NUSNET, which is the portal used for accessing email and e-resources, although they can if they want to.

"This incident highlights the rising sophistication of cyber security attacks and the need for heightened vigilance," said Mr Hor. "We would like to emphasise the importance of adopting good cyber and information security practices."

The latest cyber attack comes on the heels of the Ministry of Defence's revelation in February that the personal data of 850 national servicemen and employees were stolen following a breach in its I-net system. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' IT system was also breached, according to Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim in Parliament in 2015.

CSA's Mr Koh previously said that from 2015 to June 2016, there have been 16 waves of targeted cyberattacks surfaced to the agency's attention.
Source: CNA/mz
Share this content





More stories for you
Trump signs cyber security executive order - senior official Toggle share menu
Trump signs order aimed at upgrading government cyber defences Toggle share menu
Hacks, leaks, fake news: German fears before September vote Toggle share menu
Suspected Russia-backed hackers target Baltic energy networks Toggle share menu
Brazil calls off Zika emergency Toggle share menu

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ks-hit-by-sophisticated-cyber-attacks-8840596
 
Top