The American "Fox News" channel said that the White House confirmed that the Treasury (Ministry of Finance) had been subjected to a high-level cyber attack supported by a foreign government, and the Washington Post reported that hackers affiliated with the Russian government were responsible for the attack. Which targeted the treasury and commerce ministries and government agencies.

Reuters quoted an informed source that the cyber attack was so serious that it prompted members of the US National Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday at the White House, and the agency quoted council spokesman John Oliot as saying that the government was taking the necessary steps to address the issue.

The "Washington Post" added that the hackers succeeded in gaining access to internal e-mails in the Treasury Department and a federal agency responsible for determining Internet and communications policy, while the FBI is investigating the operation, which the newspaper said its executors were working for Russian foreign intelligence.

The newspaper added that this group is also responsible for a cyber attack on the State Department and the White House under former President Barack Obama, and the newspaper referred to a group called "APT26", which is also behind the attacks that targeted the Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 Hillary Clinton.

Urgent |

The US Treasury Department and the National Communications Authority were hacked, and their correspondence was spied on for several months!

American intelligence indicates that the penetration was complex and very worrying, and may extend to several governmental networks!

And the National Security Council holds an urgent meeting!

https://t.co/klOyB1FCQa

- Abdullah Al-Ali (@CyberkovCEO) December 13, 2020

Hacking tool

Reuters reported, citing 3 informed sources, that there are fears within the intelligence services that the hackers who targeted the Treasury and the National Communications and Information Administration at the Ministry of Commerce used a similar tool to infiltrate other government agencies.

A source familiar with the matter - who requested anonymity, because he is not authorized to speak to the press - said that the hackers are "very sophisticated" and have managed to deceive Microsoft's verification controls.

The full extent of the breach remains unclear.

The three sources familiar with the matter said that the investigation is still in its early stages, and a group of federal agencies are participating, including the FBI.

The American company, FireEye, for information security, admitted last Tuesday that it has been exposed to an extremely complex piracy, which suspects a foreign government is behind it. Customers often seek help from this giant company when they are exposed to cyber attacks, and the company links deals with the government and commercial companies.