Information Security News: Report: French officials accuse US of hacking Sarkozy's computers

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/europe/268995-us-accused-of-hacking-into-french-presidential-computers

By Julian Pecquet
The Hill
11/20/12

The United States used U.S.-Israeli spy software to hack into the French 
presidential office earlier this year, the French cyberwarfare agency 
has concluded, according to the newsmagazine l'Express.
The magazine reported late Tuesday that the computers of several close 
advisers to then-president Nicolas Sarkozy – including Chief of Staff 
Xavier Musca – were compromised in May by a computer virus that bears 
the hallmarks of Flame, which was allegedly created by a U.S.-Israeli 
team to target Iran's nuclear program. Anonymous French officials 
pointed the finger at the United States.
“You can be on very good terms with a 'friendly' country and still want 
to guarantee their unwavering support – especially during a transition 
period,” an official told the magazine. The alleged spying attack took 
place a few days before the second round of the French presidential 
elections, which Sarkozy lost to Francois Hollande, a socialist.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano reportedly did not deny the 
allegations when asked point-blank about them.
[...]

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