CERN network hacked

Rob Stringer

Hackers have infiltrated the computer system of the European Laboratory for Network Collision, home of the Large Hadron Collider.

The Greek Security Team (GST) – a lesser-known hacking team – claimed responsibility for breaking into the website at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

James Gillies, a spokesman for CERN said: “We don’t know who they were but there seems to be no harm done. It appears to be people who want to make a point that CERN was hackable.”

The hackers posted an extensive message on a rogue webpage of the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment, one of the four detectors analysing the progress of the experiment, to boast of their successful breach.

The GST called the technicians responsible for CERN computer security ‘school kids’, but stressed that they do not wish to disrupt the progress of the experiment. CERN insiders have scoffed at the idea that the hackers could be ‘one step away’ to achieving this kind of control.

The GST signed off with the message “We are 2600 - don't mess with us."

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at web security firm Sophos said that "Theoretically, hackers could have planted malicious code, which could have stolen identities or installed malware onto the computers of millions of web visitors." But he also noted that "I'd be surprised if they're trying to disrupt this."
CERN have disconnected the affected website to resolve the security issues.

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