Email snafu from DHS shows security vulnerabilities | 10.04.2007 | 07:32:54 | Views: 5448 | ID: October 4 '07: Every day, the Department of Homeland Security sends out an open-source, non-classified security update detailing news and media stories on infrastructure, homeland security issues and other relevant information. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that an error in the system caused a "reply-all" email caused a cascade of more than 2.2 million email messages which flooded the servers of the email recipients on the list. Some of the email strings were lighthearted while others, admonished users for continuing the flood of emails. Computerworld reported the "gaffe also revealed all subscribers' email addresses, and in some cases other personal information." The Times reported, "Such accidental mass email exchanges often occur in the corporate world. But because this occurred in a network of government and private officials dedicated to preventing and responding to terrorist attacks, it generated disbelief and even anger." From the Department of Defense, one email read, "This is your Combating Terrorism Office for D.O.D. asking you kindly to stop now please," sending messages. However many of the emails did not stop, but by Thursday mid-morning they had.
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