EMC Corp.'s security-systems unit RSA offered to swap theSecurID tokens it provides to clients such as defense contractorsand government agencies after a network breach disclosed in Marchresulted in the theft of RSA data.

RSA will replace the tokens if the customer believes it isnecessary, Helen Stefan, a spokeswoman, said in an interview. Shesaid RSA has about 40 million tokens in use, providing clients'employees remote access to internal networks. Itsdefense-contractor clients include Lockheed Martin Corp., NorthropGrumman Corp. and Raytheon Co.

In March, Hopkinton, Massachusetts-based EMC said that a cyberattack resulted in information being taken from its systems,including data related to RSA's SecurID products. Bethesda,Maryland-based Lockheed Martin, the defense contractor that was thetarget of an attack on May 21, said last week the breach was theresult of the data theft at RSA and that it would replace itssecurity tokens.

Users trying to access their employer's network from remotelocations may use a SecurID device, a memory stick-like unit thatgenerates random numbers that must be used in combination with apersonal identification number to gain entry.

FBI Investigation
In a letter on itswebsite, RSA said it is working with customers to assess whetherthey should replace their tokens or take other measures to boostsecurity. RSA customers also include
financial-services providers and “virtually every company thatgrants access to their systems by remote access,” Stefan said.

Lockheed said May 28 that its computer network suffered a“significant and tenacious” attack that was immediately detectedand stopped. No customer or program data was lost, it said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading an investigationinto the attack on Lockheed's computer network, Robert Butler, thedeputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, said in aJune 2 interview.

EMC fell 61 cents to $27.32 yesterday in New York Stock Exchangecomposite trading. Before today, the shares had climbed 19 percentthis year.

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