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_Air Force Aims for 'Full Control' of 'Any and All' Computers_ (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/air-force-mater.html) By Noah Shachtman (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) May 13, 2008 | 3:54:00 PMCategories: _Info War_ (http://blog.wired.com/defense/info_war/index.html) The Air Force wants a suite of hacker tools, to give it "access" to -- and "full control" of -- any kind of computer there is. And once the info warriors are in, the Air Force wants them to keep tabs on their "adversaries' information infrastructure completely undetected." The government is growing increasingly interested in waging war online. The Air Force recently put together a "_Cyberspace Command_ (http://www.afcyber.af.mil/) ," with a charter to rule networks the way its fighter jets rule the skies. The Department of Homeland Security, Darpa, and other agencies are teaming up for a five-year, $30 billion "_national cybersecurity iniative_ (http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/05/senate-panel-qu.html) ." That includes an _electronic test range_ (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/the-pentagon-wa.html) , where federally-funded hackers can _test out the latest electronic attacks_ (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/the-pentagons-w.html) . "You used to need an army to wage a war," a recent Air Force commercial notes. "_Now, all you need is an Internet connection_ (http://www.airforce.com/achangingworld/) ." On Monday, the Air Force Research Laboratory introduced a two-year, $11 million effort to put together hardware and software tools for "_Dominant Cyber Offensive Engagement_ (https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b34f1f48d3ed2ce781f85d28f700a870&tab=core&_cview=0) ." "Of interest are any and all techniques to enable user and/or root level access," a request for proposals notes, "to both fixed (PC) or mobile computing platforms... any and all operating systems, patch levels, applications and hardware." This isn't just some computer science study, mind you; "research efforts under this program are expected to result in complete functional capabilities." Unlike an Air Force colonel's proposal, to _knock down enemy websites with military botnets_ (http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/05/air-force-col-w.html) , the Research Lab is encouraging a sneaky, "low and slow" approach. The preferred attack consists of lying quiet, and then "stealthily exfiltrat[ing] information" from adversaries' networks. _Continue reading "Air Force Aims for 'Full Control' of 'Any and All' Computers_ (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/air-force-mater.html#more) Peace, Hugs, and Purrs, Carolyn Rose Goyda Missouri, USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
