An ex US Department of Geographical Survey employee’s computer was infected with Russian malware after the user visited several porn sites.
The employee -who no longer works for the USGS- reportedly visited several pornography sites, resulting in malware and spyware originating from Russia.
According to NexGov.com, the malware was used to infiltrate US government networks. In addition, the employee saved much of his porn stash on unauthorized USB drives and cellular devices, which only helped spread the viruses.
“Our digital forensic examination revealed that [the employee] had an extensive history of visiting adult pornography websites,” the inspectors wrote. “The malware was downloaded to [the employee’s] government laptop, which then exploited the USGS’ network.”
Department policies prohibit surfing for porn on government computers and devices, but the practice has become rather commonplace with government employees, with several instances popping up in recent years.
Auditors recommend that the USGS monitor their employees more closely, as well as enforcing website “blacklists.”
In addition, the auditors suggested that the USGS (and other agencies) bolster IT security to prevent future breaches and incursions.
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