Pentagon Forces Emergency Shutdown of Computer Network Handling Classified Material

When I was in J-H and high school my dad who worked for Lockeed's Instrument division in Plainfield NJ. One of the things they were working on at the time was a recorder for data. Not sure if it was aircraft or satellites, it was late 60's early 70's so could have been either one. One part of his job was to transport the finished recorders to CA. He sometimes went to San Diego and Sometimes to LA, so maybe both. Anyway, he had to keep the recorder in his possession at all times, in fact the case it was in got it's own 1st class ticket, along of course with my dad as the case was too large for a coach seat. "Mr. Case" always got the window seat.

I am a big fan of air gaping when it comes to networks and security. The voting machines we use here are free standing. After voting the data is removed and hand carried to the tabulator. It is then printed out and hand carried to the town clerk's computer where it is sent to the Secretary of State.

While I realize there has to be some networking, the sensitive stuff needs to be air gaped except when necessary to transmit. Yes, it's an extra step, but necessary.