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FBI's virus blunder

Virus infection nearly blew the cover on a secret FBI fraud investigation two years ago.

It has come to light that a virus infection nearly blew the cover on a secret FBI fraud investigation two years ago.

The FBI had been investigating Dr Rafil Dhafir, who was suspected of breaking US sanctions against Iraq. Shortly after the FBI began monitoring Dr Dhafir's email, however, the Bureau's computer system became infected with Klez.h, causing an email to be sent from the FBI to their suspect. Understandably concerned that Dhafir might become suspicious, the FBI investigators sent him a second email, creating an elaborate ruse to try to convince him that they were investigating the virus - even encouraging him to call the Bureau if he had any problems. Luckily for the investigators Dhafir seemed to fall for the trick and he was arrested ten months later. One hopes that rather more robust IT security mechanisms are now in place at the Bureau.

02 December 2004

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