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French aerospace outfit surrenders to hacker attack

by on19 February 2014



That is what you get for using a Roast Beef Internet Explorer

French aerospace engine maker Snecma has been attacked by hackers who exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is not clear how successful the hackers had been in their efforts to breach Snecma's network, and of course the French are saying non comment.

An un-named researcher said the malicious software used by the hackers contained code that identified Internet domain names belonging to Snecma. The researcher, who worked for Seculert declined to be identified by name as he was not authorised to publicly discuss the matter.

The vulnerability in Internet Explorer surfaced last week, when cybersecurity firm FireEye said that hackers had used a previously unknown security flaw in the Web browser to attack the website of the US nonprofit group Veterans of Foreign Wars. According to Seculert, the attack on the aerospace company involved a different piece of malicious software than what was used against the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which suggested a different group of hackers may be involved.

Among other things, Snecma produces cutting edge military gear, such as the M88 turbofans used in the Rafale fighter jet, one of the most advanced fighters in the world today.

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