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Defence Forces deployed 'ethical hackers' to fight back against massive HSE cyber attack

The CIS Corps deployed experts trained to think like cyber criminals to tackle the threat.

THE DEFENCE FORCES deployed the skills of so-called ‘ethical hackers’ in their bid to fight back against the HSE cyber attack of May this year. 

Ethical hackers are trained to effectively think like a cyber criminal and highlight flaws in a system’s structure. They’re typically tasked with highlighting weaknesses that need to be addressed in IT systems. 

Captain Steve Keane, an Officer in the Computer Response Team (CRT) of the Defence Forces Communications and Information Services Corps (CIS), has revealed for the first time the detailed work of the unit during the HSE crisis, which is still not yet fully resolved. 

In a podcast by the Defence Forces, Keane revealed how his unit were contacted immediately by the HSE and how they set about trying to find the hackers and analyse the virus.

“We had personnel who were analysing the malware – what does it do?” he said.

“They were also hunting for the threat actor, the adversary, on the network. [We were asking] is the person there? Is there a level of persistence where the network is brought back up and is there something nasty hiding in the corner and undoes all the work?”

Keane said that there were also military experts involved in testing a decryptor – a programme designed to retrieve infected data on HSE computers. 

He said that his team were working on the project with the health service “up until extremely recently”.

According to the latest update from the HSE, 82% of systems are now decrypted. The attack continues to affect various aspects of the service, but according to the latest official update on the ransomware attack there is currently “no evidence that large amounts of patient or staff data has been published online or sold to criminals involved in fraud”.

As the health system buckled under the pressure of the initial attack, Keane said the Defence Forces sprung into action immediately. 

While Keane didn’t comment on any specific measures, sources have told The Journal that soldiers attached to CIS were sent to hospitals and HSE offices to decrypt computers on site.

The captain said: “The Defence Forces, due to its flexible nature, were able to deploy very quickly. We were able to deploy nationally to a lot of locations in every corner of the country due to the amount of barracks and their locations so we were very flexible. 

“It was great to see all the different companies, all the different entities there. They were at the briefings and everyone saying ‘what can we do?’. It was a very positive experience.”

As previously reported by The Journal, significant questions have been raised by TDs and military sources about the impact of funding cuts on the CIS Corps.

Keane did not speak about the funding shortfall in the Defence Forces affecting its ability to respond but defended his unit’s capability.  

“The quality of people we have, we don’t have a lot of personnel – as with every organisation you are crying out for more but the people we do have, the skills they have, are exceptional.”

Keane was asked during the interview what was the future for the CIS Corps and he said that the need for the unit was only going to grow. 

“It is only going to get bigger, it has to get bigger. It is recognised by the European Defence Agency, by NATO, by any credible force that the nature of conflict has changed.

Using a term often deployed by military experts to refer to traditional warfare he said: “You don’t just have kinetic conflict, from now on, it will be proceeded by a cyber effect.”

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:24 PM

    You’d be fair fecking cold if you only grabbed your hat and scarf..

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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:53 PM

    No scorchio.

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    Mute Philip King
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    Dec 1st 2014, 8:57 PM

    Hat scarf and sock

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    Mute AD0099
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:48 AM

    Dont forget your copy of the Holly Bough

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    Mute Anne Gyna
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    Dec 1st 2014, 8:13 PM

    I hope it drops down to below Zero & freezes the shxxe outa all the germs, virus’s & infections that are doing the rounds now. So many people sick with all the dirty fog & damp weather. A decent blast of frost & ice will soon solve that.

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    Mute Ronan O Connor(MUFC)
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:43 PM

    It was -36 here in Calgary yesterday . A day for the high stool and the bovril !

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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:59 PM

    Ronan, I remember a friend of mine who emigrated to Edmonton, he said Ireland always felt colder when he came home for Christmas because of the damp.
    I’d still rather be short taken in Enniscorthy than Edmonton though.

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    Mute damian
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 1:27 AM

    I was in Regina, Saskatchewan in central Canada for 3 weeks on a business trip. Just home a few days…. The first week or so it was -22 Celsius on a good day! Took your breath away! Crazy cold. Wind chill brought it down to – 31 Celsius. But Ireland’s damp cold is something to behold.

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    Mute Daniel Dudek Corrigan
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:42 PM

    when was the last time met eireann got the weather forecast right?

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    Mute Uncle Mort
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:43 PM

    Today?

    70
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    Mute Daniel Dudek Corrigan
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    Dec 1st 2014, 8:49 PM

    Nowhere near to -2…

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    Mute Uncle Mort
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 11:42 AM

    The forecast rain moving across the country and a night-time low of -2, we got both .

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    Mute hairy ....
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:32 PM

    What a time to shave off my MO. My top lip will be cold tomorrow.

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:34 PM

    I really hope you’re a fella?.

    349
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    Mute Leslie Skinner
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    Dec 1st 2014, 8:02 PM

    Grab the duvet and stay in bed

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    Mute John O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2014, 9:57 PM

    Roll on summer!

    39
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    Mute Uncle Mort
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:26 PM

    No no no.it’s the warmest 1st week in December on record.

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    Mute Thomas Mac
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:36 PM

    I’ll believe it when I feel it.

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    Mute Lily
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:34 PM

    I have my hat got since last week (and I have rarely taken it off) but I still refuse to wear my winter jacket. Has to drop to below 0 for that.

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    Mute Sean Mcphillips
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:59 PM

    When does it not feel cold and wintry…only stating the obvious.

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    Mute N O'C
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    Dec 1st 2014, 9:11 PM

    Where were you all summer?

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    Mute Anto Byrne
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    Dec 1st 2014, 7:26 PM

    I have a whopper scarf and hat. Jacomos.com is the spot. Clothes only whop they are

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:41 AM

    Great. Just when my boiler decides to have a tantrum.

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