Hackers had 'full functional control' of Nasa computers

Hackers gained "full functional control" of key Nasa computers in 2011, the agency's inspector general has told US lawmakers.

Paul K Martin said hackers took over Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) computers and "compromised the accounts of the most privileged JPL users". He said the attack, involving Chinese IP addresses, was under investigation.In a statement, Nasa said it had "made significant progress to protect the agency's IT systems".
Mr Martin's testimony on Nasa's cybersecurity was submitted to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight.
State of security
In the document, he outlined how investigators believed the attack had involved "Chinese-based internet protocol [IP] addresses".
He said that the attackers had "full system access" and would have been able to "modify, copy, or delete sensitive files" or "upload hacking tools to steal user credentials and compromise other Nasa systems".Mr Martin outlined how the agency suffered "5,408 computer security incidents" between 2010 and 2011.He also noted that "between April 2009 and April 2011, Nasa reported the loss or theft of 48 Agency mobile computing devices.
In one incident an unencrypted notebook computer was lost containing details of the algorithms - the mathematical models - used to control the International Space Station.

Nasa told the BBC that "at no point in time have operations of the International Space Station been in jeopardy due to a data breach".

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Obama warns of force against Iran, but urges diplomacy

President Barack Obama says the US "will not hesitate" to use force to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, but says diplomacy could still succeed.

Addressing an influential pro-Israel lobby group, Mr Obama also warned against "loose talk" of war in the dispute with Tehran.Earlier, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Iran was "a danger to the world".The US and its allies suspect Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.
As tension in the region rises, speculation has been mounting that Israel might launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear sites.

"Iran's leaders should know that I do not have a policy of containment - I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Mr Obama told the annual American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) policy conference in Washington.

"And as I've made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests."However, he said Iran was isolated and there was an opportunity "for diplomacy - backed by pressure - to succeed"."Already, there is too much loose talk of war," Mr Obama added. "Over the last few weeks such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil which they depend upon to fund their nuclear programme.