Microsoft stated that hackers in China recently broke into the email accounts of around 25 organizations, including multiple government agencies.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the central federal cybersecurity watchdog, announced that “a Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agency,” which it did not name, first discovered the breach in mid-June.
Microsoft pointed out that it worked with the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to kick the hackers out, indicating U.S. organizations are among the victims.
Mark Warner, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, revealed that he and other committee members are “closely monitoring what appears to be a significant cybersecurity breach by Chinese intelligence.”
“It’s clear that the PRC is steadily improving its cyber collection capabilities directed against the U.S. and our allies,” Warner added. “Close coordination between the U.S. government and the private sector will be critical to countering this threat.”
As per the tech giant’s announcement, the hacks commenced on 15 May and went undetected until 16 June. The perpetrators were primarily focused on access to email accounts and no longer have that access, it said.
Microsoft did not say whether it believes the hacker group is affiliated with China’s government.
Meanwhile, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told The Associated Press that any accusation of government involvement was “disinformation.”
