Microsoft President Blames Russia Intelligence Agency For SolarWinds Hack
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published February 24, 2021 | 03:00 AM
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2021) microsoft President Brad Smith told a US Senate panel there is substantial evidence that a Russian intelligence agency was involved in the massive SolarWinds hacking attack and there are no leads that would incriminate other suspects.
"I do think we can say this. At this stage we have seen substantial evidence that points to the Russian foreign intelligence agency. And we have found no evidence that leads us anywhere else," Smith said in a testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
US officials have said they agree that Russian hackers are likely behind a massive cyberattack that targeted at least nine Federal agencies and 17,000 private companies. The suspects reportedly embedded malware in SolarWinds updates and patches to penetrate the networks in search for sensitive data. Russia has denied the allegations.
"We will wait for the rest of formal steps to be taken by the government and others. But there is not a lot of suspense at this moment," Smith said.
President and CEO of the CrowdStrike cybersecurity company George Kurtz agreed that there is no information available to him that would suggest that suspicions against Russia are incorrect.
"We are aware that the US government has stated this threat actor is likely of Russian origin. While we are currently unable to corroborate that finding, we have no information to suggest it's incorrect," he said during the Senate hearing.
Smith, whose company analyzed the attack in great detail, estimated that at least a thousand very skilled, capable engineers participated in it.
"We haven't seen this kind of sophistication matched with this kind of scale," he said.
Smith denounced the attack as an indiscriminate "act of recklessness" without "clear analogy or precedent." He called for attribution and accountability for the culprits.
"The world relies on the patching and updating of software... for everything. For physical infrastructure, for hospitals, roads, airports, because they are all run on software. To disrupt, to damage, to temper with that kind of software updating process is my opinion to tamper with what is in effect the digital equivalent of our public health service. It puts the entire world at a greater risk," he said.
The White House confirmed on Monday that it is weeks away from responding to the SolarWinds attack.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Sindh home minister chairs law and order meeting
Bakht Kakar orders to ensure maximum facilities in livestock sector
NEPRA concludes hearing into FCA of DISCOs for March
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
Chairman COPHC lauds MoMA’s efforts at Gwadar Port, Free Zone
CM’s aide directs steps to prevent domestic violence against women
LESCO detects 74,621 power pilferers in 220 days
Regional Police officer (RPO) Shariq Kamal Siddiqui holds open court
LESCO collects over Rs 4.36m from 189 defaulters in 24 hours
Secretary health urges public to follow precautionary measures to avoid spreadin ..
PM directs formation of committee for consultation with provinces on carbon cred ..
UAF to ink MoU with Ethiopian universities
More Stories From World
-
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
27 minutes ago -
Romania court opens way for start of influencer Tate's trial
49 minutes ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70
49 minutes ago -
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
49 minutes ago -
Russia targets Ukraine railways as Western aid due to arrive
1 hour ago -
Miner Anglo American rejects BHP's near $39-billion takeover bid
2 hours ago
-
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
2 hours ago -
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
2 hours ago -
Saudi to host top Arab, EU diplomats for Gaza talks: officials
2 hours ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70: govt
1 hour ago -
US Fed's favored inflation measure accelerates in March
3 hours ago -
Kenya flood death toll since March climbs to 70: govt
3 hours ago