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Cyber Attack Hits Pentagon
The Defense Department took as many as 1,500 computers off line because of a cyber attack, Pentagon officials said Thursday.
Few details were released about the attack, which happened Wednesday, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the computer systems would be working again soon.
Gates said the Pentagon sees hundreds of attacks a day, and this one had no adverse impact on department operations. Employees whose computers were affected could still use their handheld BlackBerries.
During a press briefing Gates said, "We obviously have redundant systems in place ... There will be some administrative disruptions and personal inconveniences."
He said the Pentagon shut the computers down when a penetration of the system was detected, and the cause is still being investigated.
When asked if his own e-mail account was affected, Gates revealed, "I don't do e-mail. I'm a very low-tech person."