Pentagon reveals breach by Russian hackers

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PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — For the first time, defense officials are revealing that the Pentagon uncovered a breach by Russian hackers into an unclassified defense computer network earlier this year. But Defense Secretary Ash Carter says officials were able to identify the intruders within 24 hours, and kicked them out.

In remarks at Stanford University in California, Carter said the response to the breach shows that the department is moving in the right direction. But he added that he still worries "about what we don't know."

He says one way the department is responding is to be more transparent about cybersecurity. And that includes a new strategy that is far more open about the Pentagon's cyber missions.

The new strategy lays out for the first time publicly that the U.S. military plans to use cyberwarfare as an option in conflicts with enemies. The 33-page strategy says cyber operations can be used to "disrupt an adversary's command and control network," among other purposes.

The previous strategy, which was publicly released four years ago, made little reference to the Pentagon's offensive cyber capabilities, although U.S. officials have spoken quietly about the issue.

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142-v-33-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent)--The Pentagon is for the first time publicy laying out its cyberwar capabilities. AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports from the Pentagon. (23 Apr 2015)

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143-c-22-(Sagar Meghani (SAH'-gur meh-GAH'-nee), AP national security correspondent)-"deter potential adversaries"-AP National Security Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the military plans to use cyberwarfare as an option in conflicts. (23 Apr 2015)

<<CUT *143 (04/23/15)££ 00:22 "deter potential adversaries"

APPHOTO CABM102: Defense Secretary Ash Carter gestures during a speech Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Stanford, Calif. Carter's speech is entitled Rewiring the Pentagon: Charting a New Path on Innovation and Cybersecurity. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (23 Apr 2015)

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