Hackers crack into Pentagon email system

Hackers crack into Pentagon email system
Pentagon officials were left red faced when over 1500 systems were pulled offline after reports surfaced that a hacker had managed to crack into the agency's email system.

The report follows after a congressional panel had revealed that attackers had hacked into the Department of Homeland Security computers on Wednesday. Disclosing the news, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that the Pentagon would carry out a number of protective measures before the systems are restored.

"Elements of the OSD unclassified e-mail system were taken offline yesterday afternoon due to a detected penetration. A variety of precautionary measures are being taken. We expect the system to be online again very soon", Gates revealed at a press conference on Thursday.

Though there were rumors of hackers being able to read the mails passed over the system, Pentagon officials assured that no classified information has been passed on the email system and there will only be minor inconveniences for users. Officials went on to add that they experienced over a hundred attacks on the Defence Department computers each day.

"There will be some administrative disruptions and personal inconveniences. It will come as no surprise that we aggressively monitor intrusions and have appropriate procedures to address events of this kind. But, as I say, we get perhaps hundreds of attacks a day", Gates added.