Determined computer hackers broke through federal firewalls several times last year, gaining access to Defence Department networks.

A newly obtained report on security breaches at the department in 2003 also reveals dozens of internal lapses. Computer security has become a high-profile concern in federal circles in light of cyber-terrorism, operations mounted by foreign intelligence services and, more often, the sloppy practices of employees.

The Defence Department's Computer Incident Response Team tracked a total of 160 events - from digital break-ins to dodgy e-mail procedures - last year.

Located in Ottawa at the Canadian Forces network operations centre, the team defends department computers by monitoring intrusion detection systems, zeroing in on threats and issuing alerts.

A declassified version of the team's report was released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

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