Hackers hit healthcare and 8 other industries in espionage attack

Hackers have breached nine organizations — including at least one in the healthcare industry — in efforts to commit cyber espionage, CNN reported Nov. 8.

Four details:

  1. The National Security Agency and cybersecurity researchers partnered to expose efforts by an unknown hacker group to steal sensitive information from U.S. defense contractors and other targets for espionage, according to a Nov. 7 report by cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks.

  2. The hackers stole passwords from the target organizations to maintain long-term access to their networks. The hackers might use this information to steal sensitive information sent by email or stored on networks. Ryan Olson, an executive at Palo Alto Networks, told CNN the nine victims are suspected to be only a fraction of targets in the spying campaign and he expects more victims to emerge.

  3. Although the identity of the hacker group is not clear, Mr. Olson said the tactics and tools used point to a suspected Chinese group. The NSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency declined to comment on the identity of the hackers but told CNN they are tracking the threat.

  4. Morgan Adamski, director of the NSA's Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, told CNN the report findings showcase that the federal agency is "delivery real-time impact to our partners and the defense of the nation."

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