Security News > 2021 > February > US Still Unraveling ‘Sophisticated’ Hack of 9 Gov’t Agencies
U.S. authorities are still working to unravel the full scope of the likely Russian hack that gave the "Sophisticated" actor behind the breach complete access to files and email from at least nine government agencies and about 100 private companies, the top White House cybersecurity official said Wednesday.
Anne Neuberger, the newly appointed deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, also warned that the danger has not passed because the hackers breached networks of technology companies whose products could be used to launch additional intrusions.
A task force is investigating the extent of the damage from the breach, assessing potential responses and trying to confirm the identity of whoever was behind it - a process Neuberger warned will take more time.
Intelligence agencies did not detect the breach because they largely have "No visibility into private-sector networks," and it was launched within the U.S., Neuberger said.
The hack, Neuberger said, highlights the need to modernize the nation's IT infrastructure and its cyber defenses, issues that will be addressed in an upcoming executive order from Biden aimed at addressing security and technology gaps highlighted by the breach.
Several agencies have acknowledged that they were breached, including the Treasury Department and Justice Department, but the full list has not been publicly released.