Share this @internewscast.com

Microsoft is still struggling to keep out the Russian cyberspies that gained high-level access to the company late last year, the company announced Friday.

Those hackers have in recent weeks gained access to some key company secrets, including digital vaults where the company keeps source code for some of its programs, the company said in a blog post.

Microsoft said the hackers are members of a group that the cybersecurity industry and U.S. and U.K. government agencies widely associated with Russia’s SVR intelligence agency, which is roughly analogous with the U.S. National Security Agency. The U.S. has said the SVR was responsible for the SolarWinds hacking campaign of 2020, one of the most expansive and successful cyberespionage campaigns against the U.S. government discovered to date.

A spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The extent of valuable information that the hackers took is unclear, and a Microsoft spokesperson declined to share more information. But the ongoing hacking campaign is particularly noteworthy because Microsoft plays a crucial role in the U.S. Federal government systems and the company’s artificial intelligence research is some of the most advanced in the world.

Adam Meyers, the senior vice president for counteradversary operations at the cybersecurity company Crowdstrike, said that the type of valuable government information that Microsoft holds could be ripe for Russian influence operations aimed at destabilizing the country’s targets.

“What is significant here is that Microsoft has a tremendous amount of data of the United States government and other governments,” Meyers said. 

“If you think about the Russia angle, their goal is to try to drive a wedge in NATO, members of the European Union, in the United States to try and cause dissension and chaos and confusion,” he said.

Microsoft announced in January that it had discovered an ongoing hacking campaign that began in November. To gain access, the hackers relied on a crude technique, known as password spraying, of repeatedly trying username and password combinations in order to break into an account that had significant administrative authority.

The hackers were able to quickly gain access to the email accounts of some key Microsoft employees, including senior corporate leadership, legal teams and those who researched foreign cyberspies like the SVR, the company said at the time.

Since then, the problem has only grown more severe, the company said. Password spraying increased by tenfold from February to March, Microsoft said, and it appears that the hackers have been able to use what they initially learned to discover other weaknesses in the company’s systems.

In an emailed statement, a senior official at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Eric Goldstein, said the agency “remains closely engaged with Microsoft to understand this intrusion campaign and provide all necessary assistance to impacted organizations, including Microsoft customers.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Chicago's police chief puts criminals on notice after federal agents targeted in weekend confrontations

Chicago Police Chief Warns Criminals Following Weekend Incidents Involving Federal Agents

Chicago’s police chief strongly refuted claims Monday that an officer had instructed…
Previously deported blue state driver charged with murdering six people in crash: report

Driver Deported Before Charged with Killing Six in Crash: Report

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a man charged with the…
Revealed: Abigail Spanberger Spent Year After 9/11 Working For 'Islamic Saudi Academy'

Unveiled: Abigail Spanberger’s Year at the ‘Islamic Saudi Academy’ Following 9/11

The twisted tale of Abigail “Let Your Rage Fuel You!” Spanberger continues…
Motorists lift medical helicopter to rescue woman after crash injuring 3 on Sacramento highway

Drivers Rally to Lift Medical Helicopter and Save Woman After Crash on Sacramento Highway Injures 3

A medical helicopter accident occurred on a highway in Sacramento, seriously injuring…
Zelda Williams urges stop to AI videos of Robin Williams

Zelda Williams Calls for an End to AI-Generated Videos of Robin Williams

“Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t…
Jacksonville shops thrive as fans gear up for Monday Night Football

Jacksonville Stores Flourish as Fans Prepare for Monday Night Football

Jacksonville businesses saw a surge in customers as fans flooded shops before…
ICE in Chicago: Anarchist website targeting ICE agents, facilities, law enforcement security bulletins say

Chicago ICE: Security Reports Warn of Anarchist Website Targeting Agents and Facilities

CHICAGO (WLS) — New law enforcement security bulletins claim ICE agents and…
‘Act of violence’: New Jersey Rabbi injured in suspected hate crime before Jewish holiday

‘Violent Assault’: New Jersey Rabbi Injured in Suspected Hate Crime Prior to Jewish Holiday

A rabbi has been assaulted outside his home in New Jersey just…
Florida removes Miami Beach rainbow crosswalk after city loses appeal

Miami Beach’s Rainbow Crosswalk Removed After Florida Wins Appeal Against City

MIAMI (AP) — A rainbow-colored crosswalk, celebrating the contributions and history of…
St. Johns County operations net 36 arrests

Law enforcement operations in St. Johns County result in 36 arrests

The St. Johns County Sheriff Office arrested 36 after operations targeting crimes…
Democrats could have a slight shot at flipping a US House seat in Utah under a new congressional map

New Congressional Map Opens Slim Opportunity for Democrats to Win Utah House Seat

The Republican-majority Legislature in Utah approved a new congressional map on Monday,…
Pivotal talks between Israel and Hamas begin in Egypt on eve of Gaza war anniversary

Key Discussions Between Israel and Hamas Launch in Egypt on Gaza War Anniversary Eve

CAIRO — Israeli and Hamas representatives initiated indirect discussions on Monday at…