Singapore MINDEF Detects Breach In I-net System, Personal Data Stolen

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) detected a breach in its I-net system earlier this month with basic personal data of around 850 servicemen and employees was stolen. In a statement Tuesday, MINDEF said the investigations are ongoing. "The attack on I-net appeared to be targeted and carefully planned. The real purpose may have been to gain access to official secrets, but this was prevented by the physical separation of I-net from our internal systems," it said. I-net provides Internet access to national servicemen and employees for their personal communications or Internet surfing using dedicated I-net computer terminals in MINDEF and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps and premises. No classified military information is stored on I-net, said MINDEF. NRIC numbers, telephone numbers and dates of birth are required for I-net account management and these are stored on I-net. Classified matters in MINDEF/SAF use a different computer system with more stringent security features and are not connected to the Internet. Upon detection, MINDEF disconnected the affected server from I-net. Immediate and detailed forensic investigations were conducted on the entire I-net to determine the extent of the breach. As a precaution even though no breach had been detected, all other computer systems within MINDEF/SAF are also being investigated. "We will continually strengthen our cyber defences as the level of targeted attacks is expected to continue and rise," the ministry said. MINDEF has also informed the Cyber Security Agency and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore to investigate other Government systems. No breaches have been detected so far, it said. MINDEF apologises for this breach and any inconvenience or harm caused to all affected servicemen, said the statement. -- BERNAMA