NSA Chief Says Sony Cyber-Attack Traced to North Korea

NSA Chief Says Sony Cyber-Attack Traced to North Korea
Advertisement

The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) identified North Korea as the source of the recent cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment after analyzing the software used in the intrusion, NSA Director Admiral Michael Rogers said on Thursday.

Speaking to a Canadian security conference, Rogers explained that the discovery was part of the agency's efforts to develop software to counter cyber-attacks.

"We ultimately ended up generating the signatures to recognize the activity ... used against Sony," Rogers said. "From the time the malware left North Korea to the time it got to Sony's headquarters in California, it crossed four different commanders' lines or areas in the U.S. construct."

Sony's network was attacked by hackers in November as the company prepared to release "The Interview," a comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The attack was followed by online leaks of unreleased movies and emails that caused embarrassment to executives and Hollywood personalities.

(Also See: Sony Pictures' Amy Pascal to Step Down as Co-Chairman)

North Korea has described the accusation as "groundless slander."

Rogers said that cyberthreats are different from physical threats since they travel beyond geographical boundaries. He said the cyberthreats are also blurring the line between the public and private sectors, sometimes prompting new and unexpected partnerships.

"If you had told me (in the past) that I was going to be spending time working on an offensive act against a motion picture company, I would have thought: 'What? What does that have to do with me?' And yet that's the world we find ourselves in."

© Thomson Reuters 2015

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Apple to Start Making Electric Vehicles as Early as 2020: Report
US, UK Spies Hacked Gemalto to Intercept Mobile Calls, Data Worldwide: Report
Share on Facebook Gadgets360 Twitter Share Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Comment google-newsGoogle News
 
 

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement

© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Trending Products »
Latest Tech News »