US Government Agencies and States Impacted by Global Cyberattacks

Several US federal government agencies have been hit in a global cyberattack exploiting a vulnerability in widely used software. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is providing support to affected agencies. It is unclear if the hackers responsible for the breach were a Russian-speaking ransomware group that has claimed credit for numerous other victims in the hacking campaign. The hacking spree has also hit major US universities and state governments, adding pressure on federal officials to combat ransomware attacks. The episode highlights the widespread impact that a single software flaw can have if exploited by skilled criminals.