NZ software firm claims Pentagon leak preventable

The "hacked" release of classified information relating to the US killing in Iraq of an Italian intelligence agent could have been avoided, an NZ software manufacturer says.

Using a simple software cut and paste technique, the German hacker was able to expose concealed parts of a PDF document, spreading the full details of the investigation across the internet.

Names of some of the US soldiers involved in the incident, which had been blacked out of the US military report, were therefore revealed.

Nicola Calipari, 50, died after being shot in the head on March 4 at a US checkpoint in Iraq. Rescued hostage, Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, was wounded. The Italians have disputed the US-version of events.

NZ company Onstream Systems Ltd said today its software could have prevented the release of the classified information.

CEO David Kelly claimed it could permanently removing sensitive information from documents before publication.



He added: "Documents that are stored and passed on electronically, can carry with them every text change and annotation from the time of first creation.

"[Our software] provides a fast, simple method of blotting out information and completely removes any record of text or author's changes, and cleans hidden code or data from behind the document.

"Since the content is no longer in the document, snooping or hacking into the file cannot reveal it."

Onstream Systems is seeking a number of worldwide patents on the software.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF