20 April 2010 | Author: D. Warburton Search Copywriter
New information has surfaced revealing some of the sensitive losses from December's cyber-attacks against Google and other companies, including the code for Google's Single Sign-On password system.
A source told The New York Times that the cyber-attack began when a Google employee in China received an instant message through Microsoft Messenger. By clicking the link, the employee inadvertently gave the hackers access to their PC, from which they were able to access "a critical group of software developers" at Google's Mountain View headquarters as well as the software repository storing the source code for the Single Sign-On system.
Previously known as Gaia, named after the Greek goddess of the Earth, Single Sign-On controls access to almost all of Google's online services, including the sign-on details for millions of Gmail users and the company's business applications.
The hackers also gained access to Google's Moma directory, containing details of employees' work activities that are believed to have been used to track down certain workers by name. However, the New York Times reported that the hackers "do not appear" to have obtained the passwords of individual Gmail users during the attack, which took place over two days in December 2009.
The aftermath of the cyber-attacks saw Google taking a stand against China's strict policies of web censorship that culminated in the company withdrawing from Beijing and moving its China operations to Hong Kong. Some media commentators believe the move may have lasting repercussions between Chinese and Western relations.
Google is still reportedly using the Single Sign-On system following the cyber-attacks, despite concerns that the attackers may have identified security weaknesses in the code following their theft.
Cyber-attacks stole code for Google's password system
New information has surfaced revealing some of the sensitive losses from December's cyber-attacks against Google and other companies, including the code for Google's Single Sign-On password system.A source told The New York Times that the cyber-attack began when a Google employee in China received an instant message through Microsoft Messenger. By clicking the link, the employee inadvertently gave the hackers access to their PC, from which they were able to access "a critical group of software developers" at Google's Mountain View headquarters as well as the software repository storing the source code for the Single Sign-On system.
Previously known as Gaia, named after the Greek goddess of the Earth, Single Sign-On controls access to almost all of Google's online services, including the sign-on details for millions of Gmail users and the company's business applications.
The hackers also gained access to Google's Moma directory, containing details of employees' work activities that are believed to have been used to track down certain workers by name. However, the New York Times reported that the hackers "do not appear" to have obtained the passwords of individual Gmail users during the attack, which took place over two days in December 2009.
The aftermath of the cyber-attacks saw Google taking a stand against China's strict policies of web censorship that culminated in the company withdrawing from Beijing and moving its China operations to Hong Kong. Some media commentators believe the move may have lasting repercussions between Chinese and Western relations.
Google is still reportedly using the Single Sign-On system following the cyber-attacks, despite concerns that the attackers may have identified security weaknesses in the code following their theft.
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