Washington/Moscow: Networks controlling US nuclear weapons have allegedly been hacked in the Russian cyberattack. Politico – a leading US news website, has made a claim, where it said officials had stated the computer networks of the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), had been targeted in the cyberattack. The report further reads that the federal agencies had informed associated congressional committees about the breach.
Only last week, the US Trade and Commerce Departments were revealed to have been subjected to a major cyberattack. FireEye, a renowned US cybersecurity firm, witnessed a massive cyberattack a few days ago. The hackers used SolarWinds server software to make the breach. FireEye is involved in many US projects related to cybersecurity and computer networks at several federal agencies, where the use of SolarWinds is widespread. Therefore, US intelligence and investigative agencies have sounded an alarm for all federal agencies using the two software.
Reports on a computer network hack associated with the US nuclear program amid that has caused a sensation. According to the Politico, the networks of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories, the Office of Secure Transportation at NNSA and Richland Field Office, were compromised during the cyberattack. Preliminary investigation has revealed that as of now, the perpetrators did not get into critical defence systems, a Department of Energy (DOE) Spokesperson said.
A cyberattack on the networks of the DOE and the NNSA, associated with the nation’s nuclear weapons, however, indicates the critical US defence systems are not secure. The NNSA is responsible for managing nuclear weapons stockpile for the US, while it also oversees the transport of nuclear materials as even response during a disaster situation. Besides, cybersecurity analysts and experts have warned, not knowing the full extent of the damage caused by the cyberattack, was a cause for serious concern.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI and National Security Agency (NSA) are investigating the hack. The cybersecurity breach also resulted in a meeting of the National Security Council. Nevertheless, neither President Donald Trump nor the White House, has made a comment on the activity as yet. Meanwhile, CISA has warned that the cyberattack is a severe security risk to not only federal agencies but also private companies.
Click below to express your thoughts and views on this news:
 |
https://twitter.com/WW3Info |
 |
https://www.facebook.com/WW3Info |
