(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — The threat of a virus caused the Federal Bureau of Investigation (www.fbi.gov) shut down its Internet-facing “unclassified network” for about 48 hours, however, the incident did not leave the agency unable to email counterparts in other intelligence and law enforcement divisions, as some media outlets reported.
According to an FBI statement correcting a New York Post article, the government agency was struck by a computer virus last week, causing the FBI and the US Marshals to shut down part of their networks as a precautionary measure.
Agents can send email using the agency’s internal network or by BlackBerry, which is more secure, however, many use the unclassified network to send messages using a web mail system, an expert source told Computer World.
The FBI’s statement read, “[E]mail traffic was largely restored within 48 hours. The external, unclassified network is generally used for routine communications and messages. It is important to note that the FBI’s internal, classified network is where communications and e-mail about sensitive and investigative matters take place and was never affected.”
As a precaution, the FBI said it would be blocking users from sending or receiving attachments on the unclassified network until technicians scan all the attachments in the email system to identify and mitigate all network threats.
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