The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday urged military personnel to stay alert, warning of potential attacks from computer hackers. The ministry asked personnel who work with confidential information to be especially on their guard.
"Vigilance starts at the individual level," said Major General Chai Hui-chen (
Chai made her remarks after being asked to comment on a recent intelligence leak at the National Defense University.
A colonel illegally took home classified information concerning the Hankwang military exercise because he wanted to continue his work after office hours.
The officer had downloaded software from Chinese Web sites onto his home computer that planted a back-door access program. Hackers then stole the classified information from his computer without the officer noticing.
The officer did not realize that his computer had been hacked until law enforcement officers discovered the hackers' attack, which originated in China, and reported it to the ministry.
The ministry yesterday said the case was under investigation.
At least six generals could face punishment from the ministry if the case is designated as an "espionage case," Chai said.
Asked why the university's anti-espionage officer had let anyone take home classified information, Chai replied: "We will certainly impose stricter security measures in the future to prevent similar cases from occurring."
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
A white king snake that frightened passengers and caused a stir on a Taipei MRT train on Friday evening has been claimed by its owner, who would be fined, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday. A person on Threads posted that he thought he was lucky to find an empty row of seats on Friday after boarding a train on the Bannan (Blue) Line, only to spot a white snake with black stripes after sitting down. Startled, he jumped up, he wrote, describing the encounter as “terrifying.” “Taipei’s rat control plan: Release snakes on the metro,” one person wrote in reply, referring
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live