US agencies, companies secure networks after cyberattacks
Al JazeeraUnited States government agencies and private companies rushed on Monday to secure their computer networks following the disclosure of a sophisticated and long-running cyberespionage intrusion suspected of being carried out by Russian hackers. But the potential threat was significant enough that the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity unit directed all federal agencies to remove compromised network management software and thousands of companies were expected to do the same. “Quite honestly, my heart sank when I saw some of the details, just the amount of information they could potentially have if they are reading everyone’s emails and they are accessing sensitive files within places like Treasury or Commerce,” said Ben Johnson, a former National Security Agency cyber engineer who is now chief technology officer of software security firm Obsidian. National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said on Monday the Trump administration was working with CISA, US intelligence agencies, the FBI and government departments affected by the intrusion to coordinate a response. “It’s obviously incredibly significant and widespread,” said Chris Painter, who coordinated cyber policy at the State Department during the Obama administration.