Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes declines to answers questions following a television interview with CNN in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 7, 2015. A top aide to President Barack Obama says the White House’s classified computer systems are secure while acknowledging vulnerabilities in its unclassified system. The comments come in response to a CNN report Tuesday that Russian hackers got access to sensitive White House information such as the president's private schedule. Rhodes would not confirm CNN’s report that sensitive information was accessed or comment on where the threat originated. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON — A top aide to President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the White House's classified computer systems are secure while acknowledging vulnerabilities in its unclassified system.
Obama adviser Ben Rhodes made the remarks in response to a CNN report that Russian hackers got access to sensitive White House information such as the president's private schedule.
The White House acknowledged in October that it had detected suspicious activity on its unclassified network while assessing possible cyberthreats.
Rhodes would not confirm CNN's report that sensitive information was accessed or comment on where the threat originated.
But he said, "There's always vulnerability." Rhodes said that's why the White House operates a separate, secure system for classified data.
He said the White House takes regular actions to prevent intrusions on its unclassified network, "but we're frankly told to act as if we need not put information that's sensitive on that system."
Apr. 7, 2015 7:57 PM EDT
