Virus Attacks the Swiss Foreign Ministry

Security researchers stated that attackers haveagencies.
hacked the computer network of the Swiss foreignOn the contrary, the Swiss external affairs ministry isn't
ministry which led to the network's shutdown for manythe only entity that has been victimized by a virus
days. A professional virus attack was launchedattack. In 2007, hackers has successfully attracted
enabling the attackers to hijack network and collectemployees at the foreign ministry and at the State
unspecified data. The scope of the attack is stillSecretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to be part of
unknown and the officials have not revealed whata phishing scheme where there are around 500
data did the hackers targeted.workers who received e-mails that contains a link on a
According to reports, the attack was really plannedphoto contest. Employees who clicked the link to vote
enough that the attackers involved were able to getfor the said photo contest have been infected with a
away with it without being detected. Microsoft andTrojan virus. Too bad, the government's security
specialists from the ministry discovered the attack onsoftware was not able to recognize the threat. The
October 22, 2009. Allvoices reported that the networksaid attack was traced to come from Africa. United
was shut down after the hack has been discoveredStates had also accused China for using
last October 27, 2009. The specialists tried to findsecretly-copied data to hack into the Commerce
where and how the attack started, and if there areDepartment computers. Chinese were also accused
any data that has been stolen. The staff have beenfor hacking computers that belongs to the computers
prohibited to use the Internet for security purpose.of the Dalai Lama. In February 2009, a computer virus
Unfortunately, the Swiss Interior Ministry and Financestruck UK and French defense computers. A virus
Ministry also experienced some problems on theirwas also discovered hitting German military networks.
systems on the same month. It is not clear if the sameTo prevent the virus from spreading, several websites
incidences are related to the latest attack. Reportsof German armed forces were disconnected from the
imply that maybe a spyware from a foreign countrycountry's military network.
was spying the Swiss systems. Security specialistsHackers have been increasing nowadays attacking
warn that the virus authors are starting a secret rebelmany organization and government websites in
technique to make a massive virus outbreaks happenvarious nations. Anyone can be a victim of these online
hoping to be successful in compromising a significantattacks especially if your computer is not protected.
network prior to any response from the anti-virus