Microsoft says group behind SolarWinds hack now targeting government agencies, NGOs
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Microsoft says group behind SolarWinds hack now targeting government agencies, NGOs

World+Biz

Reuters
28 May, 2021, 11:55 am
Last modified: 28 May, 2021, 11:58 am

Related News

  • Italy prevents pro-Russian hacker attacks during Eurovision contest
  • Espionage-focused hacker group, Bitter APT, allegedly targets RAB
  • Microsoft to help cover US employees' travel costs for abortion
  • Govt's cyber threat agency recommends to keep botnet, malware free from infection
  • People should not reply to late night emails, work after shift timing, says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Microsoft says group behind SolarWinds hack now targeting government agencies, NGOs

"This week we observed cyberattacks by the threat actor Nobelium targeting government agencies, think tanks, consultants, and non-governmental organizations", Microsoft said in a blog

Reuters
28 May, 2021, 11:55 am
Last modified: 28 May, 2021, 11:58 am
Silhouettes of laptop and mobile device users are seen next to a screen projection of Microsoft logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Silhouettes of laptop and mobile device users are seen next to a screen projection of Microsoft logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The group behind the SolarWinds cyber attack identified late last year is now targeting government agencies, think tanks, consultants, and non-governmental organizations, Microsoft Corp said on Thursday.

"This week we observed cyberattacks by the threat actor Nobelium targeting government agencies, think tanks, consultants, and non-governmental organizations", Microsoft said in a blog.

Nobelium, originating from Russia, is the same actor behind the attacks on SolarWinds customers in 2020, according to Microsoft.

The comments come weeks after a May 7 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline shut the United States' largest fuel pipeline network for several days, disrupting the country's supply.

"This wave of attacks targeted approximately 3,000 email accounts at more than 150 different organizations", Microsoft said on Thursday.

While organisations in the United States received the largest share of attacks, targeted victims came from at least 24 countries, Microsoft said.

At least a quarter of the targeted organisations were involved in international development, humanitarian issues and human rights work, Microsoft said in the blog.

Nobelium launched this week's attacks by breaking into an email marketing account used by the United States Agency For International Development (USAID) and from there launching phishing attacks on many other organisations, Microsoft said.

The hack of information technology company SolarWinds, which was identified in December, gave access to thousands of companies and government offices that used its products. Microsoft President Brad Smith described the attack as "the largest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen".

This month, Russia's spy chief denied responsibility for the SolarWinds cyber attack but said he was "flattered" by the accusations from the United States and Britain that Russian foreign intelligence was behind such a sophisticated hack.

The United States and Britain have blamed Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), successor to the foreign spying operations of the KGB, for the hack which compromised nine U.S. federal agencies and hundreds of private sector companies.

The attacks disclosed by Microsoft on Thursday appeared to be a continuation of multiple efforts to target government agencies involved in foreign policy as part of intelligence gathering efforts, Microsoft said.

The company said it was in the process of notifying all of its targeted customers and had "no reason to believe" these attacks involved any exploitation or vulnerability in Microsoft's products or services.

Tech

Microsoft / Hacking

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Bankers unhappy with uniform exchange rate
    Bankers unhappy with uniform exchange rate
  • Finance projects export fall, remittance rise
    Finance projects export fall, remittance rise
  • Road crash kills 10 in Barishal 
    Road crash kills 10 in Barishal 

MOST VIEWED

  • US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a speech at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore before departing for Vietnam on the second leg of her Asia trip, August, 24, 2021. Photo :Reuters
    Kamala Harris calls for assault weapons ban
  • File photo.
    Nepal plane missing with 22 people on board
  • Iracema Guimaraes da Costa, a local farmer, reacts as she wades through flood waters in front of her relatives' house, after several riverside villages were affected by flooding triggered by the rise of the river levels in Careiro da Varzea, in the Amazonas state, Brazil May 20, 2022. Reuters
    Heavy rains in Brazil's northeast kill at least 35
  • FILE PHOTO: Chinese and US flags flutter near The Bund, before US trade delegation meet their Chinese counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song
    US extends tariff exclusions on Chinese Covid-19 medical products
  • Russian Rouble coins are seen in front of displayed US Dollar banknote in this illustration taken, February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Russia working on new mechanism to service foreign debt
  • Picture: Collected
    Calcutta HC stays order to EC to act on TMC's Alo Rani’s nationality

Related News

  • Italy prevents pro-Russian hacker attacks during Eurovision contest
  • Espionage-focused hacker group, Bitter APT, allegedly targets RAB
  • Microsoft to help cover US employees' travel costs for abortion
  • Govt's cyber threat agency recommends to keep botnet, malware free from infection
  • People should not reply to late night emails, work after shift timing, says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Features

Photo: Collected

Top 3 The Ordinary products that give extraordinary results

1h | Mode
Photo: Courtesy

KVN Beauty: Channel your inner Bangalee baddie

1h | Mode
CholPori is planning to roll out their platform in schools so teachers can utilise their tools for the classroom. Photo: Courtesy

CholPori: Where learning is practical, fun and inclusive

1h | Panorama
Rebecca Ivey. Illustration: TBS

How China’s efforts are advancing global development

2h | Thoughts

More Videos from TBS

Photo: TBS

Tips to help you become a successful lawyer

2h | Videos
People bid adieu to Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

People bid adieu to Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

2h | Videos
Photo: TBS

Harassment over 'indecent clothing': Women gather at Narsingdi railway station to protest, show solidarity

2h | Videos
Attorney General's suggestion to reduce case clutter

Attorney General's suggestion to reduce case clutter

16h | Videos

Most Read

1
Bangladesh Bank GM, DGM’s designation changed
Banking

Bangladesh Bank GM, DGM’s designation changed

2
Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
NBR

Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards

3
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

Misfit Technologies: A Singaporean startup rooted firmly in Bangladesh

4
British International Investment (BII) CEO Nick O’Donohoe. Illustration: TBS
Economy

BII to invest $450m in Bangladesh in 5 years

5
Representational image. Picture: Pixabay
Economy

Govt raises regulatory duty to discourage imports of 130 products

6
Photo: Collected
Industry

Spanish recycled cotton producer opens new facility in Bangladesh

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab