WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. authorities expressed greater alarm Thursday over an intrusion into computer systems around the world that officials suspect were carried out by Russian hackers, with the country’s cybersecurity agency nation that warned it poses a “serious” risk to government and private networks. .
The Security and Cybersecurity Agency said in its more detailed comments that the intrusion has compromised government agencies and “critical infrastructure” in a sophisticated attack that was difficult to detect and will be difficult to undo.
CISA did not say which agencies or infrastructures were breached or what information taken in an attack it previously said appeared to have begun in March.
“This threatening actor has demonstrated sophistication and complex commercial craft in these intrusions,” the agency said in an unusual alert. “CISA expects the removal of the threatening actor from compromised environments to be highly complex and difficult.”
The agency previously said the authors had used Texas-based SolarWinds t network management software or infiltrate computer networks. The new alert said the attackers could have used other methods as well.
A U.S. official has previously told The Associated Press that Russian-based hackers are suspected, but neither CISA nor the FBI have publicly said who is believed to be responsible.
Another U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss an issue under investigation, said the hacking was serious and extremely harmful, even though the Trump administration was not yet ready to publicly blame anyone.
“It seems to be the worst case of piracy in American history,” the official said. “They got into everything.”
The official said the administration is working on the assumption that most, if not all, of the government agencies were involved, but the extent of the damage was not yet known.
Asked if Russia was behind the attack, the official said, “We think so. We haven’t said it publicly yet because it’s not 100% confirmed.”
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Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed.
expressing an increased alarm over an intrusion into computer systems around the world that officials suspect was transported to Russia.
The Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity unit said Thursday that hacking “poses a serious risk to the federal government and state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as critical infrastructure entities and other private sector organizations.” .
It was the most detailed comments from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency since reports surfaced this weekend that government agencies, including the Treasury and Commerce departments, were among those with sophisticated data and email penetrated by the sophisticated. hack.
CISA also warned that it will be difficult to remove malware inserted through network software. “The agency said removing this threatening actor from compromised environments will be very complex and difficult for organizations.
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