Lockheed Strengthens Network Security After Hacker Attack

Lockheed Martin said on Sunday that it had stepped up its investigation into a sophisticated hacking attack on its computer networks and bolstered security measures for gaining remote access to its systems.

Lockheed and RSA Security, which supplies coded access tokens to millions of corporate users and government officials, said they were still trying to determine whether the attack had relied on any data that hackers had stolen from RSA in March or if it had exploited another weakness.
Lockheed, which is based in Bethesda, Md., said on Saturday night that the attack, which occurred on May 21, was “significant and tenacious.” Lockheed officials said they had stopped the attack shortly after hackers got into a system, adding that no customer or company data was compromised.
Sondra Barbour, Lockheed’s chief information officer, sent a memo to the company’s employees on Sunday, saying that its systems remained secure. She said Lockheed had quickly shut down remote access to its network after the attack began.
Still, the attack was significant enough that it was described in briefing materials provided to President Obama, the White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said on Sunday. He said the damage was “fairly minimal.”
Government officials have said Lockheed Martin, the nation’s largest military contractor, and other military companies face frequent attacks from hackers seeking national security data.
Officials at Lockheed and RSA Security, a division of the EMC Corporation that provides the SecurID brand of electronic access tokens, said they were working with federal officials to investigate how the attack occurred and who was behind it.
Ms. Barbour said Lockheed also had accelerated a plan to increase network security. The company has upgraded the SecurID tokens supplied by RSA and is resetting all user passwords. Lockheed also switched to eight-digit access codes from four-digit codes, which are randomly generated by the tokens.
Lockheed officials said on Friday that the attack on its systems might have been linked to one on the RSA network in March. At the time, RSA said it had sustained a data breach that could have compromised some of its security products. Its announcement shocked computer security experts, particularly because its systems are widely used.
Shortly after RSA announced that breach, Lockheed, like many other large companies, said it had added an additional password to the process employees used to connect to its system from remote locations.
One Lockheed executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security issues, said on Sunday that investigators “cannot rule out” a connection between the attacks on the RSA and Lockheed networks.
EMC said in a statement on Sunday that it was “premature to speculate” on the cause of the Lockheed attack.
Some blog items and articles have suggested that customers would back away from using RSA’s SecurID tokens. But Lockheed said it planned to continue using them, and EMC said it remained confident in the tokens.

Homer propels Mavericks into final

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Archbishop McCarthy’s seniors graduated Monday morning, but they weren’t about to let their baseball season come to an end the same night.
Coming into their state semifinal ranked No. 1 nationally in the USA Today Super 25 and No. 4 nationally by ESPN RISE, and coming in as the defending state champions, their game against unheralded Crawfordville Wakulla seemed to be just another step to Tuesday’s state championship game.

But the War Eagles pestered the Mavericks all night, and a McCarthy victory was only assured when Jose Brizuela launched a three-run homer over the right-field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning.
That blast gave the Mavericks 4-2 win at Digital Domain Park on Monday night, advancing them to the state title game Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Tampa Jesuit.
“I was just trying to stay inside the ball and drive it,” said Brizuela, who also struck out the side in the seventh to earn a save. “Now we have one more game left, and we’re going to go get them.”
The game was very much in doubt before the homer, as McCarthy stranded runners throughout.
McCarthy (27-3) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but Brizuela grounded into an easy out to the Wakulla (18-10) second baseman.
In the fifth inning it was more of the same, as runners on second and third base trotted back to the dugout instead of sprinting through home plate.
When the sixth came around, though, Wakulla starter Ryan Zimba finally showed some signs of getting tired. He walked the Mavericks’ eighth and ninth hitters – his seventh and eighth walks of the game – to bring up Brizuela with the season and a potential mythical national championship on the line.
Brizuela, who had a poor night at the plate to that point, came through with a high fly ball the just kept sailing until it plopped onto the grassy hill to the left of the right-field foul pole.
“We’ve come back so many times that we really believe,” coach Rich Bielski said. “There was no panic, there was no ‘This could be our last game.’”
For a while, Wakulla’s fourth inning looked like it was going to be the difference.
Two errors brought one War Eagle home, and it might have been much worse if Mavericks catch Garrett Kennedy hadn’t made a great defensive play.
Wakulla’s Dillon Norman hit what looked like a sacrifice fly into right field, but McCarthy’s Adam Duarte was on target with a throw home. Kennedy caught the relay, turned, was clobbered by opposing catcher Tylor Hudson and held his grip on the ball on for a huge out.
“He’s going to lay it all on the field and put his body at risk for us,” starting pitcher Andre Martinez said. “That was a big sign in Jose Brizuela’s head when he was up to bat. He was thinking of all the people that fight for him.”
But the inning wasn’t over, and a single by the next War Eagle scored a runner from third to put Wakulla up 2-1.
Martinez (11-2) earned the win, striking out seven in six innings. Zimba (3-6) took the loss.
McCarthy only had about 18 hours in between their win and Tuesday’s state championship game. Martinez hopes the tight turnaround won’t be a factor.
“We enjoy this win for about 20 minutes, go eat and then go to bed because we’ve got to go back to work,” Martinez said.

Thor 3D [Review]

The summer officially begins with a cosmic ride through Norse mythology and the four-colored imaginations of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and the minds behind Marvel Studios with an enthusiastic, energetic and fun (yes, FUN) entry into superhero cinema: Kenneth Branagh’s Thor. Move over Iron Man, Thor is claiming the throne. The Dark Knight might still be the best serious adaptation of comics-to-film, but Thor is the most lively and colorful...and genuinely funny. Full of mythology and epic scale, Thor brings one of the more challenging superhero concepts to the big screen in spectacular fashion with dashes of Shakespearean conflict, exciting action, romance and humor. Marvel Studios have officially proven that Iron Man was not a fluke and continue to build their shared universe franchise, leading with heated anticipation to 2112’s Avengers film. The movie is full of Easter eggs and nerdy references to make any comic fan geek-out but it also an exceptional heroic story and fantasy film that any movie fan can embrace. Well done.


The film’s story concerns the lessons learned and maturity earned by its lead character, Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Living in one of the nine realms called Asgard, Thor is set to become King, inheriting the role from his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). When the Frost Giants break into the Asgardian armory to steal a powerful historical relic, Thor, along with his closes allies (The Warriors Three, Lady Sif, and his brother Loki), crosses his father’s high commands and confronts the Frost Giants on their own turf, nearly taking Asgard to war in the process. Angered by Thor’s childish immaturity and bold disobedience, Odin casts Thor out of Asgard banishing his to Earth. Humbled and powerless with only the help of a fair human mortal (Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman), Thor must find his way back to Asgard to save his kingdom from both an Asgardian traitor and the Frost Giants' plot to kill Odin. Even with enough mythology and epic scale to compete with Lord of the Rings, Thor’s plot wisely focuses on the emotions and relationships rather than getting buried in the mythology itself. At its core, it’s about Thor and his father, his brother, his closest friends, his new found love and even himself. It anchors the film, enabling all the high fantasy elements to live and breath on their own. It works. It’s remarkable.
Much of the success of Thor is due to the star-making performance by Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Previously seen as Captain Kirk’s father in the opening scenes of J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot, Hemsworth is incredible in the role of Thor, showing a wide range of emotions and depth along with the chiseled brawn, handsome smile, and heroic feats. In the beginning, he’s arrogant, stubborn, and dogmatic, almost to the point of being childish. Through his adventures, he becomes humble, compassionate, and inspiring - he becomes a true hero. Hemsworth brings it all together and brings Thor to the big screen - totally believable, bringing human qualities to mythological gods. He even sells the outlandish costume, Shakespearean-laced dialog and humor. As much as Robert Downey, Jr. is Tony Stark, Chris Hemsworth is, and will always be, the mighty Thor.
Hemsworth has plenty of help too in making Thor a blast with the rest of the film’s cast. Tom Hiddleston plays Thor’s brother Loki, bringing the most mischievous of mischievous villains to life. He plays Loki just right, never overplaying the villainous actions and always keeping the audience wondering what he’s really up to - his true motivations and intentions. He is the Lord of Lies for a reason. In a role that could have sent the whole picture into camp if played too overtly, Hiddleston keeps it cool and close to the chest. It’s a brilliant performance - a subtle one, one that can easily get overlooked with all the high action surrounding him. Anthony Hopkins is perfect as Odin, bringing authority and honor to the role of King of Asgard. The scene of Odin banishing his son to Earth is heart-breaking, frightening, and awe-inspiring all at once. The film is full of well-cast Agardians: Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Tadanobu Aano as Hogun, Josh Dallas as Fandral, Jamie Alexander as Sif and Rene Russo as Frigga. The most impressive supporting role, however, is Idris Elba as Heimdall, the guardian of BiFrost and the rainbow bridge. His performance brings honor, strength, and humor to the role that leaves a huge impression in the short amount of time his character is on screen. Together they all bring Asgard to life, full of mythology, beauty and history, leaving the audience wanting more.
Midgard has its share of actors to appreciate as well, lead by Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. She leads a team of scientist that run across Thor as he arrives on Earth. Stellan Skarsgård plays Erik Selvig and Kat Dennings plays Darcy Lewis, the intern. Clark Gregg continues his role as Agent Coulson from the Iron Man movies. Each brings more to their role than the character is given, most notably Natalie Portman as Thor’s love interest. One weakness that the movies has is the romance between Thor and Jane - it’s underdeveloped and forced, but Portman sells it. She brings enough drive and wonder to the character that the idea she’d fall for overly handsome, hulking brute; believable enough to support the romance without sacrificing the character. Kat Dennings steals nearly every scene she is in with comic timing and wide-eyed innocence, even taking a picture of Thor eating breakfast to post on Facebook. Clark Gregg continues building the character of Agent Coulson, witty and sarcastic and fun, but it’s time to bring some depth to the role if he’s to maintain interest as a character instead of just a connection between movies. Stellan Skargard is fatherly in his role as scientist Erik Selvig and proves more oddly important to the franchise in the final reel (yes, wait for the after credits scene) than in most of the movie. He does have a fantastic and charmingly warm scene with Thor in a pub. Great characters all played well by an exceptional cast.
Kenneth Branagh proves with Thor that he is more than capable of directing an action picture - and Thor is the perfect picture for Branagh who is closely associated with Shakespearean films. The mythology and classic conflicts blend nicely with his experience from these films - it helps add depth to the Asgardian landscapes, politics and relationships. This is particularly obvious in the scenes between Thor and Odin and, later, Thor and Loki, but it is also key to the way Heimdall is portrayed and filmed. He also handles the conflict between the Frost King, Laufey, and Odin with similar authority and expertise. This all plays well contrasted against the mundane Earthly locales, characters, and scenes. He also manages to bring a great deal of humor to Thor as well which serves the film well by keeping the movie from becoming dry and absorbed in its own politics. It’s a delightful mix of emotions, comedy, action, fantasy and adventure - a real achievement. He also captures the source material as well with a variety of angled shots from Thor rising into a maelstrom swinging his hammer above his head to a simple shot of the local diner. Well done!
Branagh also plays close attention to the 3D process, making Thor one of the more successful post-conversion 3D films to date. Using the 3D, Branagh is able to display a great deal of depth to the landscapes throughout the film. He places key characters in the foreground - with dramatic profiles or action laden heroic stances - making them stand out even further than they should. It’s one of the better examples of how to film for 3D. However, it is rarely used to significantly enhance the film itself. The 3D use is subtle. The landscapes, both Asgard and Nevada, are vast and stretch far into the horizon. There is no strain to the eyes during the action. The process was obviously well thought out and executed. Branagh never seems to use 3D to bring things into the foreground but rather to provide depth and richness to the background and landscape. As a result, the 3D fails to leave a lasting impression on the viewer regardless of how well it is done. While it never harms the film (although some have pointed out some key night scenes are blurry), it never makes the difference between the 3D and the 2D version noteworthy. There’s no reason to have to see it in 3D.
Thor is one of the best comic book adaptations to date, capturing the spirit, adventure, and heroism of the source material. The movie is pure fun; it is a joy to watch and experience, full of drama, romance and humor. Branagh hits a home run with the direction displaying a keen eye for detail, action, and respect for the material. The cast is superb with Chris Hemsworth bringing one of the more challenging heroes to life with confidence, charisma and charm. It’s brilliant with only a few missteps - a forced romance and unremarkable 3D - to keep if from being perfect. Thor is a magnificent start to the summer season of 2011 and should not be missed - it’s a great time at the theater.

Osama Bin Laden Dead: The Navy SEALs Who Hunted and Killed Al Qaeda Leader

The Navy SEAL team of military operatives who killed Osama bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Sunday night was made up of some of the best-trained troops in the world. SEAL Team Six, the "Naval Special Warfare Development Group," was the main force involved in Sunday's firefight.
The daring operation began when two U.S. helicopters flew in low from Afghanistan and swept into the compound where Osama bin Laden was thought to be hiding late Sunday night Pakistan time, or Sunday afternoon Washington time. Twenty to 25 U.S. Navy SEALs disembarked from the helicopters as soon as they were in position and stormed the compound. The White House says they killed bin Laden and at least four others with him. The team was on the ground for only 40 minutes, most of that was time spent scrubbing the compound for information about al Qaeda and its plans.
The Navy SEAL team on this mission was supported by helicopter pilots from the 160th Special Ops Air Regiment, part of the Joint Special Operations Command. The CIA was the operational commander of the mission, but it was tasked to Special Forces.


U.S. Navy Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as SEAL Teams, are the best of the best. Their creed is to be "a special breed of warrior ready to answer our nation's call."

"We are reminded that we are fortunate to have Americans who dedicate their lives to protecting ours," President Obama said today. "We may not always know their names, we may not always know their stories, but they are there every day on the front lines of freedom and we are truly blessed."
"There are other operations going on around the globe constantly," said Capt. Duncan Smith, a SEAL spokesman who spoke with ABC News.
In 2009, another SEAL team was instrumental in rescuing the American captain of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama from armed pirates off the coast of Somalia. On that mission, SEAL snipers fired perfect shots -- from the deck of a heaving ship -- to neutralize three pirates, with three bullets, simultaneously. The SEALs began their work in 1942, when military leaders decided to set up an elite team to scout beaches suitable for landing troops in World War II.
These men have done all of this in anonymity. It is standard procedure never to identify members of Team Six.
"A lot of those missions -- a majority of those missions -- are ones that the public will never know about... and that's a good thing," Smith said.
Navy SEALs toil in the dark of night, tasked with the most daring, dangerous and important missions. To become a SEAL, those men completed some of the most brutal training regimens ever devised, designed to push the boundaries of even the most able service members. Only one third of recruits eventually become SEALs.
"You have to be able to endure a lot of physical pain and sometimes emotional pain, and you just have to dig deep. It's an elite organization and so it can't be for everybody," said Paul Tharp, master chief of the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School and a SEAL for 24 years.
"What sets SEALs apart is our diversity in terms of the environments in which we operate," said Smith, also a SEAL for 24 years. "We operate at 10,000 feet in the Hindu Kush Mountains. We operate in desert regions in Iraq and elsewhere. We operate in jungles throughout the world."
As of 2009, there were 2,500 active duty SEALs. With the expanding war on terror and missions in 30 countries, the Navy needs more, but finding young men who can meet the SEALs' standards is a challenge.
"We are not looking for cocky kids," said Senior Chief Hans Garcia, a SEAL recruiter. "The perfect person would be a candidate who is remarkably physically fit, but is pretty humble, an analytical thinker, a problem solver -- someone who is very value-oriented, patriotic, puts service above self."

ABC News' BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) , JAKE TAPPER (@jaketapper) , RICHARD ESPOSITO, ALICE MAGGIN and NICK SCHIFRIN (@nickschifrin) contributed to this report.