Japanese scientists fear spacecraft blueprint stolen after networks penetrated by virus

The Japanese space agency has admitted that a computer virus may have stolen sensitive information from their networks - including blueprints for a spacecraft. 

Hackers could sell on the information or blackmail the space agency for its return. A terminal connected to networks belonging to the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was infected with a Trojan. 

Data that could have been revealed includes email addresses, system log-in information and, crucially, the specification and operation of the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). 

 

Known in Japanese as the Kounotori, meaning White Stork, the HTV is used to ferry equipment to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The 10m module can carry up to six tons of cargo, launched from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre, southern Japan.

JAXA fears the blueprints for the module were stolen after they found one of their computers was infected with a Trojan-type virus. 

JAXA's engineers said in a statement they noticed the computer was acting oddly last August and disconnected it from their networks. 

An investigation found the machine was infected with a virus, which was removed, before the terminal was returned to use. 

But computer security experts kept it under observation and, at the beginning of January, they discovered evidence that a different virus had collected information from it.

They also discovered that the computer, under the influence of the virus, had sent out information between early July and early August last year. 

JAXA's engineers have since changed all the passwords for the systems affected and launched a fresh investigation into the scale of damage caused by the security breach.

A statement released by the agency said: 'We sincerely apologise over such trouble, and we will promptly address the following measures while strengthening our information security in order to prevent any recurrence, as we gravely regret this incident.'

The revelations about the JAXA leak follow a run of similar cyber-assaults against corporations and government agencies in Japan. 

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries last September aknowledged it had fallen victim to hackers, while in October the Japanese parliament confirmed it had been hacked.

Source:dailymail