Credit: Microsoft Corporation
Large American corporation are the target of malicious software supposedly originating in China. Facebook and Apple have been victims of computer hacking and now Microsoft is joining the sinister list of the recent hijacking spree.
Microsoft has disclosed that it recently fell victim to the same type of cyberattack that targeted Apple and Facebook. “During our investigation, we found a small number of computers, including some in our Mac business unit, that were infected by malicious software using techniques similar to those documented by other organizations,” the company said on its Security Response Center website Friday.
Microsoft joins a list of companies that have recently reported being hacked, including Facebook, Apple, Twitter, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Apple and Facebook were both targeted via a vulnerability in Oracle’s Java platform, and Microsoft said Friday it was hit by a similar attack. “This type of cyber attack is no surprise to Microsoft and other companies that must grapple with determined and persistent adversaries,” it said.
The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Apple each pointed at China as the source of the attacks. Twitter didn’t say where it thought the attacks originated but urged 250,000 of its users to change their passwords. China has denied involvement in the attacks.
By now you must have heard of sinister Unit 61398 of the People’s Liberation army “an overwhelming percentage of attacks on American corporations, organizations and government agencies originate in and around their white tower,” claims The New York Times who were themselves recently owned by the 1337 h4ck3r5 of Unit 61398.
Earlier this month U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order seeking better protection of the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks. We have to be extremely careful in determining what sites we visit on the Internet, and search for the best antivirus software you can afford. All precautions are necessary during these perilous times of constant cyber attacks aimed at our computers. I’ve been hit a couple of times and it hurts. Ouch! Caveat and Good Day.
