Russian hackers staged their attacks from servers in the United States, sometimes using computers in the same city as the victims, cybersecurity company FireEye told the New York Times.
Why it’s important: This allowed intruders to evade “legal prohibitions on the National Security Agency from conducting domestic surveillance” and evade “cyber defenses deployed by the Department of Homeland Security.”
Get up to date fast: The attack, attributed to Russia, began with the target of software contractor IT SolarWinds. Gaining access to it allowed national hackers to access information from various high-profile agencies and companies, including the Treasury, Commerce, and National Security departments.
- Experts warn of the attack it could have serious repercussions as it lasted months, was targeted at key companies and government agencies and had access to a wide range of substantial information, reports Ina Fried of Axios.
- The attack lasted at least nine months and affected approximately 250 federal companies and agencies, according to the Times.