The Department of Homeland Security announced that IT software used by a wide range of federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies has been hacked by malicious actors. In an emergency directive issued last night, the DHS called US agencies to review their networks and disconnect servers using the software (made by SolarWinds), citing a “high potential for a compromise of agency information systems.” The global hacking campaign reportedly began earlier this year, and targets have included the US Treasury and Commerce departments.
More context: While the DHS did not identify the origin of the cyberattacks, several reports noted that Russian hackers are suspected to be responsible. Russia issued a statement denying the claims yesterday.
The New Paper
This story is from the December 14, 2020 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
