The mainframe network belong to the U.S. military's Central Command was effectively infiltrated in 2008 via Flash drives, stated by the source. The event occurred in 2008 at a post in the Middle East and was carrying out via a USB Flash drive, which put in malware. "That code spread undetected on both classified and unclassified systems, establishing what amounted to a digital beachhead, from which data could be transferred to servers under foreign control," Lynn said.

"Operation Buckshot Yankee," which counters the attack, was a decisive moment for military computer security. Part of the reaction was an impermanent ban on the use of Flash drives in military systems. That prohibition has since been customized. The broad delineate of the attack have been reported over time, but the particulars had therefore been kept secret.

The Post suggested that Lynn's article is aimed in part at lift up alertness of the issues and of the DOD's actions in rejoinder, mostly active defense, which seeks out intruder on the network. It is also an exercise in public lobbying for DOD to have a role in national cyber defense. Present legislative offer usually give the Department of Homeland Security primary liability in that area.